Flood vent having a panel

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, a flood vent panel includes a first area, a second area, and a first set of one or more perforations positioned on a first side of the flood vent panel in a location in-between the first area and the second area. The perforations are configured to break when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the second area. The flood vent panel is configured to be coupled, at least indirectly, to a structure so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening in the structure. The break is configured to completely separate the second area from the first area so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of thefiling date under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/230,633, filed Dec. 21, 2018, which is a divisional of and claims thebenefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/665,145, filed Jul. 31, 2017 (which issued intoU.S. Pat. No. 10,161,156 on Dec. 25, 2018), which is a continuation ofand claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/965,337, filed Dec. 10, 2015 (whichissued into U.S. Pat. No. 9,758,982 on Sep. 12, 2017), all of which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to flood water control devices andmore particularly to a flood vent having a panel.

BACKGROUND

Typically, one or more flood vents may be installed into an opening in astructure (such as a building) in order to provide for equalization ofinterior and exterior hydrostatic forces caused by flooding fluids, suchas water. Such typical flood vents may include a screen or grille thatmay allow flooding fluids to pass into or out of the structure throughthe flood vent, but that may prevent animals or other pests fromentering or exiting the structure through the flood vent. These typicalflood vents, however, may be deficient.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a flood vent includes a frame configured toform a fluid passageway through an opening in a structure. The floodvent further includes a panel configured to be coupled to the frame inthe fluid passageway so as to at least partially block the fluidpassageway through the opening in the structure. The flood vent alsoincludes one or more connectors configured to couple the panel to theframe. The one or more connectors are further configured to uncouple thepanel from the frame when 0.5-5.0 pounds per square inch (PSI) ofpressure is applied to a portion of the panel by one or more of a fluidor an object carried by the fluid, so as to reduce an amount of blockageof the fluid passageway provided by the panel.

Certain embodiments of the disclosure may provide one or more technicaladvantages. For example, the flood vent includes one or more connectorsconfigured to uncouple the panel from the frame when a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel, such as by a fluid or anobject (such as a tree limb or dirt) carried by the fluid. As such, inparticular embodiments, the panel of the flood vent may prevent (orsubstantially prevent) objects and/or fluids from passing through theflood vent until a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel, and after the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel, the panel may be uncoupled from the flood vent and may no longerprevent objects and/or fluids from passing through the flood vent (orthe amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel maybe reduced). This may, in particular embodiments, allow the flood ventto provide for equalization of hydrostatic forces caused by, forexample, flooding fluids, even when the flooding fluids carry objects(such as debris) that may clog the openings in the panel, when theopenings in the panel are too small to allow sufficient fluids to passthrough the flood vent, when the openings in the panel are closed,and/or when the panel does not include any openings.

According to another embodiment, a flood vent includes a frameconfigured to form a fluid passageway through an opening in a structure.The flood vent further includes a panel configured to be coupled to theframe in the fluid passageway so as to at least partially block thefluid passageway through the opening in the structure. The flood ventalso includes one or more connectors configured to couple the frame tothe structure. The one or more connectors are further configured touncouple the frame from the structure when 0.5-5.0 PSI of pressure isapplied to one or more of a portion of the panel or a portion of theframe by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid, so asto reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway.

Certain embodiments of the disclosure may provide one or more technicaladvantages. For example, the flood vent includes one or more connectorsconfigured to uncouple the frame from the structure when a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel and/or the frame, such as bya fluid or an object (such as a tree limb or dirt) carried by the fluid.As such, in particular embodiments, the panel of the flood vent mayprevent (or substantially prevent) objects and/or fluids from passingthrough the flood vent until a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel and/or the frame, and after the predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel and/or the frame, the frame(along with the panel) may be uncoupled from the structure and the panelmay no longer prevent objects and/or fluids from passing through theopening in the structure (or the amount of blockage of the fluid passingthrough the opening may be reduced). This may, in particularembodiments, allow the flood vent to provide for equalization ofhydrostatic forces caused by, for example, flooding fluids, even whenthe flooding fluids carry objects (such as debris) that may clog theopenings in the panel, when the openings in the panel are too small toallow sufficient fluids to pass through the flood vent, when theopenings in the panel are closed, and/or when the panel does not includeany openings.

According to a further embodiment, a flood vent panel includes a firstarea, a second area, and a first set of one or more perforationspositioned on a first side of the flood vent panel in a locationin-between the first area and the second area of the flood vent panel.The first set of one or more perforations are configured to break whenat least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion ofthe second area of the flood vent panel. The flood vent panel isconfigured to be coupled, at least indirectly, to a structure so as toat least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening in thestructure. The break is configured to completely separate the secondarea of the flood vent panel from the first area of the flood vent panelso as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway providedby the flood vent panel.

Certain embodiments of the disclosure may provide one or more technicaladvantages. For example, the flood vent includes one or moreperforations configured to uncouple at least a portion of the panel fromthe flood vent when a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel, such as by a fluid or an object (such as a tree limb or dirt)carried by the fluid. As such, in particular embodiments, the panel ofthe flood vent may prevent (or substantially prevent) objects and/orfluids from passing through the flood vent until a predetermined amountof pressure is applied to the panel, and after the predetermined amountof pressure is applied to the panel, the at least a portion of the panelmay be uncoupled from the flood vent and may no longer prevent objectsand/or fluids from passing through the flood vent (or the amount ofblockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel may be reduced).This may, in particular embodiments, allow the flood vent to provide forequalization of hydrostatic forces caused by, for example, floodingfluids, even when the flooding fluids carry objects (such as debris)that may clog the openings in the panel, when the openings in the panelare too small to allow sufficient fluids to pass through the flood vent,when the openings in the panel are closed, and/or when the panel doesnot include any openings.

According to a further embodiment, a flood vent panel includes aplurality of insulation pieces coupled together to form at least aportion of the flood vent panel. The flood vent panel further includesone or more insulation piece connectors coupled to the plurality ofinsulation pieces. The one or more insulation piece connectors areconfigured to couple the plurality of insulation pieces together to formthe at least the portion of the panel. The flood vent panel isconfigured to be coupled, at least indirectly, to a structure, so as toat least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening in thestructure. The one or more insulation piece connectors are furtherconfigured to uncouple one or more of the plurality of insulation piecesfrom the panel when at least a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to a portion of the flood vent panel by one or more of a fluidor an object carried by the fluid, so as to reduce an amount of blockageof the fluid passageway provided by the flood vent panel.

Certain embodiments of the disclosure may provide one or more technicaladvantages. For example, the flood vent includes a plurality ofinsulation pieces configured to form at least a portion of the panel,and one or more insulation piece connectors configured to uncouple oneor more of the insulation pieces from the panel when a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel, such as by a fluid or anobject (such as a tree limb or dirt) carried by the fluid. As such, inparticular embodiments, the panel of the flood vent may prevent (orsubstantially prevent) objects and/or fluids from passing through theflood vent until a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel, and after the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel, one or more of the insulation pieces of the panel may beuncoupled from the panel and may no longer prevent objects and/or fluidsfrom passing through the flood vent (or the amount of blockage of thefluid passageway provided by the panel may be reduced). This may, inparticular embodiments, allow the flood vent to provide for equalizationof hydrostatic forces caused by, for example, flooding fluids, even whenthe flooding fluids carry objects (such as debris) that may clog theopenings in the panel, when the openings in the panel are too small toallow sufficient fluids to pass through the flood vent, when theopenings in the panel are closed, and/or when the panel does not includeany openings.

Certain embodiments of the disclosure may include none, some, or all ofthe above technical advantages. One or more other technical advantagesmay be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the figures,descriptions, and claims included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsfeatures and advantages, reference is now made to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1A illustrates a front view of a door of an example flood vent.

FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the door of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A illustrates a front view of an example flood vent inserted intoan opening of a structure.

FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example flood ventinserted into an opening of a structure, taken along section line 2-2 ofFIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C illustrates a front view of another example flood vent insertedinto an opening of a structure, where the panel of the flood ventincludes a screen.

FIG. 2D illustrates a cross-sectional view of another example flood ventinserted into an opening of a structure, where the panel of the floodvent includes louvers.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate the flood vent of FIGS. 1-2 having a firstexample of connectors.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate the flood vent of FIGS. 1-2 having a secondexample of connectors.

FIGS. 5A-6C illustrate the flood vent of FIGS. 1-2 with a panel havingexample perforations.

FIGS. 7A-7H illustrate the flood vent of FIGS. 1-2 with a panel having aplurality of insulation pieces and one or more insulation piececonnectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are best understood by referringto FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like andcorresponding parts of the various drawings.

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate an example of a flood vent 8. The flood vent 8 maybe inserted (or otherwise installed) into an opening 18 in a structure17, such as an opening in a building, a wall, a foundation, a basement,a garage, a garage door, a foyer, an entry, any structure located belowbase flood plain levels, any other structure, or any combination of thepreceding. The flood vent 8 may provide an entry point and/or exit pointin the structure for flooding fluids, such as water. As such, the floodvent 8 may provide equalization of interior and exterior hydrostaticforces caused by the flooding fluids. In particular embodiments, theflood vent 8 may comply with various building code and federalgovernment regulations that mandate that buildings with enclosed spaceslocated below base flood plain levels, such as crawl spaces, mustprovide for automatic equalization of interior and exterior hydrostaticforces caused by flooding fluids. According to these regulations,flooding fluids must be permitted to enter and exit the enclosed spacesfreely using flood venting.

As illustrated, the flood vent 8 includes a frame 10 and a panel 22. Theframe 10 may be configured to be inserted into an opening 18 in astructure 17, and may be further configured to form a fluid passagewaythrough the opening 18 in the structure 17, thereby allowing fluids toenter and/or exit the structure 17. The frame 10 includes a top edge 11a, a bottom edge 11 b, and two side edges 11 c and 11 d (not shown). Theedges 11 may define an outer perimeter of the frame 10. The frame 10further includes a top rail 12 a, a bottom rail 12 b, and two side rails12 c and 12 d. When the flood vent 8 is inserted (or otherwiseinstalled) in the opening 18 in the structure 17, the edges 11 of theframe 10 may be positioned (entirely or partially) within the opening 18of the structure 17 (as is seen in FIG. 2B), and the rails 12 may bepositioned (entirely or partially) outside the opening 18 of thestructure 17 (as is further seen in FIG. 2B). The frame 10 also includesa top interior edge 13 a, a bottom interior edge 13 b, and two sideinterior edges 13 c and 13 d (not shown). The interior edges 13 of theframe 10 may define an inner perimeter of the frame 10. Furthermore,although the flood vent 8 is illustrated as including a single frame 10and a single panel 22, the flood vent 8 may include multiple frames 10and/or multiple panels 22. For example, the flood vent 8 may include twoframes 10 (or two or more frames 10) stacked on top of each other (andcoupled together), along with one or more panels 22 attached to eachframe 10 (or a single panel 22 attached to multiple frames 10). Asanother example, the flood vent 8 may include two frames 10 (or two ormore frames 10) positioned horizontally next to each other (and coupledtogether), along with one or more panels 22 attached to each frame 10(or a single panel 22 attached to multiple frames 10). As a furtherexample, the flood vent 8 may include two frames 10 (or two or moreframes 10) stacked on top of each other and two frames 10 (or two ormore frames 10) positioned horizontally next to each other (and thesefour or more frames 10 may be coupled together), along with one or morepanels 22 attached to each frame 10 (or a single panel 22 attached tomultiple frames 10).

The frame 10 may have any shape. For example, the frame 10 may berectangular-shaped. The frame 10 may also have any dimensions. Forexample, the top and bottom edges 11 a and 11 b may be approximately 16″long (16″+/−0.2″), and the side edges 11 c and 11 d may be approximately8″ long, thereby forming an 8″×16″ rectangular outer perimeter.Furthermore, the top and bottom rails 12 a and 12 b may be approximately17 11/16″ long, and the side rails 12 c and 12 d may be approximately 911/16″ long. Additionally, when two or more frames 10 are coupledtogether (as is discussed above), the flood vent 8 may have an outerperimeter of, for example, approximately 16″×16″, 8″×32″, 16″×32″, orany other dimensions. The frame 10 may be formed (or made) of anymaterial. For example, the frame 10 may be formed of a corrosionresistant material, such as stainless steel, spring steel, plastic, apolymer, cement, brick, any other corrosion resistant material, or anycombination of the preceding.

The frame 10 may be configured to be inserted (or otherwise installed)into an opening 18 in any side of the structure 17. For example, theopening 18 in the structure 17 may extend from the exterior of thestructure 17 to the interior of the structure 17 (such as the interiorof a building), thereby allowing fluids to enter and/or exit thestructure 17. The frame 10 of the air vent 8 may be inserted (orotherwise installed) on the exterior side of the structure 17 (for anexterior frame 10 for an exterior flood vent 8, for example) or on theinterior side of the structure 17 (for an interior frame 10 for aninterior flood vent 8, for example). As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, frame10 is inserted on the exterior side of the structure 17. Furthermore,frames 10 may be inserted (or otherwise installed) on both the exteriorside of the structure 17 (for exterior frames 10, for example) and theinterior side of the structure 17 (for interior frames 10, for example).Additionally, in particular embodiments, a sleeve may be positionedin-between an interior frame 10 and an exterior frame 10. The sleeve maybe configured to connect to the exterior frame 10 at a first end of thesleeve, extend through the opening 18 in the structure 17 to theinterior frame 10, and connect to the interior frame 10 at a second endof the sleeve. The sleeve may form a portion of the fluid passagewaythrough the opening 18 in the structure 17. For example, fluid such aswater may enter the opening 18 in the structure 17 through exteriorflood vent 8, flow through the sleeve, and exit the opening 18 into theinterior of the structure 17 (or vice versa). The sleeve may have anyshape. For example, the sleeve may be a hollow rectangular sleeve. Thesleeve may have any dimensions. For example, the sleeve may be sized tofit entirely within the opening 18, connecting the exterior frame 10 tothe interior frame 10. The sleeve may be formed (or made) of anymaterial. For example, the sleeve may be formed of a corrosion resistantmaterial, such as stainless steel, spring steel, plastic, a polymer,cement, brick, any other corrosion resistant material, or anycombination of the preceding.

The flood vent 8 further includes a panel 22. The panel 22 may beconfigured to be coupled to the frame 10 (thereby coupling the panel 22to the structure 17 indirectly). The panel 22 may be coupled to theframe 10 in any manner. For example, the panel 22 may be formed integralwith the frame 10, welded to the frame 10, coupled to the frame 10 usingan adhesive (such as glue, cement, and/or Lexel®), attached to the frame10 using one or more pins that may be inserted or snapped into one ormore channels or hooks in the frame 10, attached to the frame 10 usingone or more rivets, nails, and/or any other connector, attached to thestructure 17 (and thus the frame 10) using one or more rivets, nails,and/or any other connecter, coupled to the frame 10 in any other manner,or any combination of the preceding. The panel 22 may be configured tobe coupled to the frame 10 in the fluid passageway formed by the frame10. Additionally, when coupled to the frame 10, the panel 22 may atleast partially block the fluid passageway formed by the frame 10, anexample of which is seen in FIGS. 2A-2B. The panel 22 may block anyportion of the fluid passageway formed by the frame 10. For example, thepanel 22 may block all of the fluid passageway (or completely block thefluid passageway) formed by the frame 10, thereby preventing all (orsubstantially all) fluids (such as water and/or air) from passingthrough the panel 22, as well as preventing objects (such as smallanimals) from passing through the panel 22. As another example, thepanel may block only a portion of the fluid passageway, therebypreventing (or substantially preventing) objects (such as small animals)from passing through the panel 22, but allowing fluids (such as waterand/or air) to pass through the panel 22.

The panel 22 may be any type of panel. For example, the panel 22 mayinclude one or more openings 26 configured to allow fluids (such aswater and/or air) to pass through the panel 22, but prevent objects(such as small animals) from passing through the panel 22. In such anexample, the panel 22 may be a mesh grille panel, a grate, any otherpanel with one or more openings 26, or any combination of the preceding.The openings 26 may have any size and/or shape. In particularembodiments, the size of the openings 26 may be sufficiently small toprevent (or substantially prevent) objects, such as small animals, frompassing through the panel 22. The panel 22 may include any number ofopenings 26, such as one opening 24, two openings 26, three openings 26,four openings 26, eight openings 26, ten openings 26, or any othernumber of openings 26. The openings 26 may be completely open, or theopenings 26 may be screened to prevent (or substantially prevent)penetration by small animals and/or insects. An example of the panel 22including a screen 27 is illustrated in FIG. 2C.

As another example, the panel 22 may be a solid panel that may preventall (or substantially all) fluids (such as water and/or air) frompassing through the panel 22, as well as preventing (or substantiallypreventing) objects (such as small animals) from passing through thepanel 22. As a further example, the panel 22 may be a screen (such as afine mesh screen) configured to prevent (or substantially prevent)penetration by small animals and/or insects. As another example, thepanel 22 may include one or more louvers (such as, for example, fourlouvers, or any other number of louvers) that may be opened to allow airto pass through the panel 22 (e.g., during wanner temperatures), andclosed to prevent (or substantially prevent) air from passing throughthe panel 22 (e.g., during colder temperatures). Additionally, thelouvered panel 22 may be screened to prevent (or substantially prevent)penetration by small animals and/or insects. Further details regardinglouvers (and the operation of such louvers) is included in U.S. Pat. No.6,692,187 entitled “Flood Gate For Door,” which is incorporated hereinby reference. An example of the panel 22 including louvers 28 isillustrated in FIG. 2D.

The panel 22 includes a top edge 23 a, a bottom edge 23 b, and two sideedges 23 c and 23 d. The edges 23 may define an outer perimeter of thepanel 22. The panel 22 further includes a first side 24 a and a secondside 24 b positioned opposite of the first side 24 a. As is illustrated,the first side 24 a may be positioned to face the exterior of thestructure 17, and the second side 24 b may be positioned to face theinterior of the structure 17. However, the first side 24 a may faceeither the exterior of the structure 17 or the interior of the structure17, and the second side 24 b may face either the exterior of thestructure 17 or the interior of the structure 17. The panel 22 may haveany shape, and may also have any dimensions. For example, the panel 22may have the same (or substantially the same) shape and/or dimensions asthe inner perimeter of the frame 10. As such, in particular embodiments,the panel 22 may be flush against the inner perimeter of the frame 10.As another example, the panel 22 may have larger dimensions (or adifferent shape) than the inner perimeter of the frame 10. As such, inparticular embodiments, the panel 22 may be coupled to the exterior ofthe frame 10 (such as coupled to the rails 12) or to the structure 17.As a further example, the panel 22 may have smaller dimensions (or adifferent shape) than the inner perimeter of the frame 10. As anotherexample, the panel 22 may have an outer perimeter of, for example,approximately 7⅝″×15¾″. The panel 22 may also have any thickness 25. Forexample, panel 22 may have a thickness 25 of 0.15″, 0.25″, 0.50″, 1.0″1.50″, 2.0″, 3.0″, 4.0″, or any other thickness 25. The panel 22 may beformed (or made) of any material. For example, the panel 22 may beformed of a corrosion resistant material, such as stainless steel,spring steel, plastic, a polymer, cement, brick, any other corrosionresistant material, or any combination of the preceding.

As is discussed above, the flood vent 8 may be inserted (or otherwiseinstalled) into an opening 18 in a structure 17. The structure 17 may beany structure. For example, the structure may be a building, a wall, afoundation, a basement, a garage, a garage door, a foyer, an entry, anystructure located below base flood plain levels, any other structure, orany combination of the preceding. The structure 17 may include one ormore edges 19 that form an inner perimeter of the opening 18 in thestructure 17. The opening 18 may have any shape and/or dimensions forreceiving the frame 10 (or frames 10) of the flood vent 8. For example,when the frame 10 has a rectangular outer perimeter of 8″×16″, theopening 18 may have a rectangular inner perimeter of 8¼″×16¼″. Asanother example, when the flood vent 8 has 51704326; 1 multiple frames10 (as is discussed above) and a rectangular outer perimeter of 16″×32″,the opening 18 may have a rectangular inner perimeter of 16⅜″×33″. Assuch, the flood vent 8 may be inserted (or otherwise installed) into theopening 18 of the structure 17. The opening 18 may be added to thestructure 17 in any manner. For example, the opening 18 may be added (orcut into) the structure 17 after the structure 17 is already built. Asanother example, the opening 18 may be left in (or built into) thestructure 17 as the structure 17 is being built. In such an example, theframe 10 of the flood vent 8 (or the entire flood vent 8) may be builtinto the opening 18 of the structure 17 as the structure 17 is beingbuilt.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the flood vent 8of FIGS. 1-2 without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Forexample, although the frame 10 of the flood vent 8 has been describedabove as including rails 12, in particular embodiments, the frame 10 maynot include any rails 12. As another example, although the flood vent 8has been described above as including a frame 10, in particularembodiments, the flood vent 8 may not include a frame 10. In suchembodiments, the panel 22 may be configured to be coupled directly tothe structure 17. As such, in particular embodiments, the panel 22 maybe inserted into (or installed on) the structure 17 (such as the opening18 in the structure 17) without the use of a frame 10. Furthermore, insuch embodiments, the opening 18 (itself) may form the fluid passagewaythrough the structure 17.

As is discussed above, a flood vent may typically include a screen orgrille that may allow flooding fluids to pass into or out of thestructure through the flood vent, but that may prevent animals or otherpests from entering or exiting the structure through the flood vent.Unfortunately, such typical flood vents may be deficient. For example,although the screen or grille of the flood vent may prevent objects fromentering the flood vent, the screen or grille may also prevent fluidsfrom sufficiently passing through the flood vent. In particular, duringa flood event, a large quantity of water may attempt to pass through theflood vent. If openings in the screen or grille are not large enough (orif the flood vent does not have any openings or if the openings in theflood vent are not open), the water may be prevented from quicklypassing through the flood vent, which may disrupt the equalization ofinterior and exterior hydrostatic forces caused by flooding waters.Furthermore, the water may be carrying various pieces of debris (such astree limbs and dirt) that may clog the openings, preventing the floodvent from allowing any (or most) of the water to pass through the floodvent. Conversely, if the openings are too large, the openings may notprevent objects (such as small animals) from entering the flood vent.Contrary to these typical flood vents, FIGS. 3-7 illustrate examples offlood vents that may provide one or more advantages.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate the flood vent 8 of FIGS. 1-2 having exampleconnectors 30. Connectors 30 may be configured to couple the panel 22 tothe frame 10. Furthermore, the connectors 30 may be further configuredto uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10. For example, the connectors30 may be configured to uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 when apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22, such as bya fluid or an object (such as a tree limb or dirt) carried by the fluid.As such, in particular embodiments, the panel 22 of flood vent 8 mayprevent (or substantially prevent) objects and/or fluids from passingthrough the flood vent 8 until a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22, and after the predetermined amount of pressureis applied to the panel 22, the panel 22 may be uncoupled from the floodvent 8 and may no longer prevent objects and/or fluids from passingthrough the flood vent 8 (or the amount of blockage of the fluidpassageway provided by the panel 22 may be reduced). This may, inparticular embodiments, allow the flood vent 8 to provide forequalization of hydrostatic forces caused by, for example, floodingfluids, even when the flooding fluids carry objects (such as debris)that may clog the openings 26 in the panel 22, when the openings 26 inthe panel 22 are too small to allow sufficient fluids to pass throughthe flood vent 8, when the openings 26 in the panel are closed, and/orwhen the panel 22 does not include any openings 26.

As is discussed above with regard to FIGS. 1-2, the flood vent 8includes a frame 10 and a panel 22. The frame 10 may be configured to beinserted into an opening 18 in a structure 17, and may be furtherconfigured to form a fluid passageway through the opening 18 in thestructure 17, thereby allowing the flooding fluids to enter and/or exitthe structure 17. The panel 22 may be configured to be coupled to theframe 10. Furthermore, the panel 22 may be configured to be coupled tothe frame 10 in the fluid passageway formed by the frame 10.Additionally, when coupled to the frame 10, the panel 22 may at leastpartially block the fluid passageway formed by the frame 10, an exampleof which is seen in FIG. 3A. The panel 22 may be coupled to the frame 10by one or more connectors 30. The panel 22 may be any type of panel. Forexample, as is illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C, the panel 22 may be a solidpanel that may prevent all (or substantially all) fluids (such as waterand/or air) from passing through the panel 22, as well as prevent (orsubstantially prevent) objects (such as small animals) from passingthrough the panel 22. As another example, the panel 22 may include oneor more openings 26 configured to allow fluids (such as water and/orair) to pass through the panel 22, but prevent objects (such as smallanimals) from passing through the panel 22.

A connector 30 may be any type of connector that may couple the panel 22to the frame 10, and that may further uncouple the panel 22 from theframe 10 when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22. As a first example, a connector 30 may be oneor more raised bumps (or raised lips), as is illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C.The raised bumps may allow a panel 22 to be installed in the frame 10,thereby coupling the panel 22 to the frame 10, as is seen in FIG. 3A.For example, an installer (such as a person) may push the panel 22 intothe frame 10 with enough force to cause the panel 22 to move past thefirst set of raised bumps. In such an example, the panel 22 may thenrest in a gap (or be sandwiched) in-between the first set of bumps and asecond set of bumps (as is seen in FIG. 3A), thereby coupling the panel22 to the frame 10. Furthermore, the raised bumps may continue to couplethe panel 22 to the frame 10 until a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22 by, for example, a fluid (such as floodingwater). Once the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22, the panel 22 may be forced past a set of the raised bumps, asis seen in FIG. 3B. This may uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10,causing the panel 22 to be completely separated from the frame 10, andbe carried away from the frame 10, as is seen in FIG. 3C. As such, inparticular embodiments, the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objectsand/or fluids from passing through the flood vent 8 (or the amount ofblockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel 22 may bereduced).

As a second example, a connector 30 may be one or more pieces of velcroconfigured to couple the panel 22 to the frame 10, and that may befurther configured to uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 when, forexample, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22.The pieces of velcro may include, for example, one or more first piecesof velcro that are coupled to the frame 10 and/or the structure 17, andone or more second pieces of velcro that are coupled to the panel 22.The first pieces of velcro may be further coupled to the second piecesof velcro, thereby coupling the panel 22 to the frame 10 (and/or thestructure 17). Furthermore, the pieces of velcro may continue to couplethe panel 22 to the frame 10 (and/or the structure 17) until apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 by, forexample, a fluid (such as flooding water). Once the predetermined amountof pressure is applied to the panel 22, the coupling between the piecesof velcro may be broken. This may uncouple the panel 22 from the frame10 (and/or the structure 17), causing the panel 22 to be completelyseparated from the frame 10, and be carried away from the frame 10. Assuch, in particular embodiments, the flood vent 8 may no longer preventobjects and/or fluids from passing through the flood vent 8 (or theamount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel 22 maybe reduced).

As a third example, a connector 30 may be one or more mechanicalfasteners configured to couple the panel 22 to the frame 10, and thatmay be further configured to uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22. The mechanical fasteners may include any one or more devicesand/or objects that may mechanically fasten the panel 22 to the frame 10(and/or the structure 17), such as one or more nails, screws, rivets,nuts and bolts, rods and studs, anchors, pins, retaining rings and/orclips, any other devices that may mechanically fasten the panel 22 tothe frame 10 (and/or the structure 17), or any combination of thepreceding. Furthermore, the mechanical fasteners may be configured touncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. Forexample, the mechanical fasteners may be configured to break orotherwise uncouple from the panel 22 (and/or frame 10 and/or structure17) when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied tothe panel 22. In particular embodiments, the mechanical fasteners may beengineered and/or modified to break or otherwise uncouple from the panel22 (and/or frame 10 and/or structure 17) when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22.

The mechanical fasteners may include one or more mechanical fastenerscoupled to the panel 22, the frame 10, and/or the structure 17, therebycoupling the panel 22 to the frame 10 (and/or the structure 17).Furthermore, the mechanical fasteners may continue to couple the panel22 to the frame 10 (and/or the structure 17) until a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 by, for example, a fluid(such as flooding water). Once the predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22, the mechanical fasteners may break or otherwiseuncouple from the panel 22 (and/or frame 10 and/or structure 17). Thismay uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/or the structure 17),causing the panel 22 to be completely separated from the frame 10, andbe carried away from the frame 10. As such, in particular embodiments,the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objects and/or fluids frompassing through the flood vent 8 (or the amount of blockage of the fluidpassageway provided by the panel 22 may be reduced).

As a fourth example, a connector 30 may be an adhesive configured tocouple the panel 22 to the frame 10, and that may be further configuredto uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. Theadhesive may include any adhesive substance that may adhere the panel 22to the frame 10 (and/or the structure 17), such as glue, cement, Lexel®adhesive, any other adhesive substance that may adhere the panel 22 tothe frame 10 (and/or the structure 17), or any combination of thepreceding. Furthermore, the adhesive may be further configured touncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. Forexample, the adhesive may be configured to peel off, break, or otherwiseuncouple from the panel 22 (and/or frame 10 and/or structure 17) when,for example, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel22. In particular embodiments, the adhesive may be engineered and/ormodified to peel off, break, or otherwise uncouple from the panel 22(and/or frame 10 and/or structure 17) when, for example, a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. In particularembodiments, the amount of adhesive used to adhere the panel 22 to theframe 10 (and/or frame 10 and/or structure 17) may be selected to causethe adhesive to peel off, break, or otherwise uncouple from the panel 22(and/or frame 10 and/or structure 17) when, for example, a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22.

The adhesive may include one or more portions of the adhesive coupled tothe panel 22, the frame 10, and/or the structure 17, thereby couplingthe panel 22 to the frame 10 (and/or the structure 17). Furthermore, theportions of the adhesive may continue to couple the panel 22 to theframe 10 (and/or the structure 17) until a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22 by, for example, a fluid (such asflooding water). Once the predetermined amount of pressure is applied tothe panel 22, the adhesive may peel off, break, or otherwise uncouple51704326; 1 from the panel 22 (and/or frame 10 and/or structure 17).This may uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/or the structure17), causing the panel 22 to be completely separated from the frame 10,and be carried away from the frame 10. As such, in particularembodiments, the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objects and/orfluids from passing through the flood vent 8 (or the amount of blockageof the fluid passageway provided by the panel 22 may be reduced).

As a fifth example, a connector 30 may be one or more pressure-basedconnectors configured to couple the panel 22 to the frame 10, and thatmay be further configured to uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22. The pressure-based connectors may include any type ofconnector that may apply pressure (or otherwise utilize pressure) tocouple the panel 22 to the frame 10 (and/or the structure 17). As anexample, the pressure-based connectors may be a pressure-based clip(such as a spring clip) configured to fit in-between the edges 23 of thepanel 22 and the inner edges 13 of the frame 10. In such an example,when the panel 22 is installed into the frame 10 (or the opening 18),the pressure-based connectors may be compressed by the edge 23 of thepanel 22 and the edge 13 of the frame 10 (or the edge 19 of the opening18), thereby causing the pressure-based connectors to push outwardagainst the edge 13 of the frame 10 and inward against the edge 23 ofthe panel 22. Such pressure applied by the pressure-based connectors(along with friction, in particular embodiments) may at least couple thepanel 22 to the frame 10. Furthermore, although the pressure-basedconnectors have been described above as being a separate component fromthe panel 22, in particular embodiments, the pressure-based connectorsmay be the panel 22 (or part of the panel 22), itself. For example, thepanel 22 may have dimensions larger than the inner perimeter of theframe 10. In such an example, inserting the panel 22 may cause the edges23 and/or corners of the panel 22 to be bent in (or out) against theframe 10, thereby applying pressure that may couple the panel 22 to theframe 10 (or the structure 17). The pressure-based connectors may befurther configured to uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 when, forexample, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22.For example, the pressure-based connectors may be configured to break,slip off, or otherwise uncouple from the panel 22 (and/or frame 10and/or structure 17) when, for example, a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22. In particular embodiments, theamount of pressure applied by the pressure-based connectors may beconfigured to be overcome by the predetermined amount of pressureapplied to the panel 22 by, for example, the fluid.

The pressure-based connectors may include one or more pressure-basedconnectors coupled to (and/or applying pressure to) the panel 22, theframe 10, and/or the structure 17, thereby coupling the panel 22 to theframe 10 (and/or the structure 17). Furthermore, the pressure-basedconnectors may continue to couple the panel 22 to the frame 10 (and/orthe structure 17) until a predetermined amount of pressure is applied tothe panel 22 by, for example, a fluid (such as flooding water). Once thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22, thepressure-based connectors may break, slip off, or otherwise uncouplefrom the panel 22 (and/or frame 10 and/or structure 17). This mayuncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/or the structure 17),causing the panel 22 to be completely separated from the frame 10, andbe carried away from the frame 10. As such, in particular embodiments,the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objects and/or fluids frompassing through the flood vent 8 (or the amount of blockage of the fluidpassageway provided by the panel 22 may be reduced).

As a sixth example, a connector 30 may be one or more permanentattachments configured to couple the panel 22 to the frame 10, and thatmay be further configured to break (or otherwise fail) so as to uncouplethe panel 22 from the frame 10 when, for example, a predetermined amountof pressure is applied to the panel 22. The permanent attachment mayinclude any one or more attachments that may permanently couple (and/orfixedly couple and/or couple in a manner that requires a break or afailure in order to uncouple) the panel 22 to the frame 10 (and/or thestructure 17), such as a weld, the panel 22 being formed integral withthe frame 10, any other attachment, or any combination of the preceding.Furthermore, the permanent attachments may be configured to uncouple thepanel 22 from the frame 10 when, for example, a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22. For example, the permanentattachments may be configured to break, fail, or otherwise uncouple fromthe panel 22 (and/or frame 10 and/or structure 17) when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. Inparticular embodiments, the permanent attachments may be engineeredand/or modified to break, fail, or otherwise uncouple from the panel 22(and/or frame 10 and/or structure 17) when, for example, a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. For example, thepermanent attachments (such as a weld) may include one or moreengineered defects that may cause them to break or fail. As anotherexample, a pressure (or stress) may be constantly applied to thepermanent attachments, thereby causing the additional predeterminedamount of pressure to cause the permanent attachments to break or fail.

The permanent attachments may include one or more permanent attachmentscoupled to the panel 22, the frame 10, and/or the structure 17, therebycoupling the panel 22 to the frame 10 (and/or the structure 17).Furthermore, the permanent attachments may continue to couple the panel22 to the frame 10 (and/or the structure 17) until a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 by, for example, a fluid(such as flooding water). Once the predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22, the permanent attachments may break, fail, orotherwise uncouple from the panel 22 (and/or frame 10 and/or structure17). This may uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/or thestructure 17), causing the panel 22 to be completely separated from theframe 10, and be carried away from the frame 10. As such, in particularembodiments, the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objects and/orfluids from passing through the flood vent 8 (or the amount of blockageof the fluid passageway provided by the panel 22 may be reduced).

The flood vent 8 may include any number of connectors 30. For example,the flood vent 8 may include one connector 30, two connectors 30, threeconnectors 30, four connectors 30, six connectors 30, eight connectors30, ten connectors 30, or any other number of connectors 30. Theconnectors 30 may be attached or otherwise coupled to any portion of thepanel 22, frame 10, and/or structure 17. For example, the connectors 30may be attached to the edges 23 of the panel 22 and/or the edges 13 ofthe frame 10. As another example, the connectors 30 (such as screws) maybe positioned through one or more holes (such as one or more screwholes) in side 24 a (for example) of the panel 22, and inserted into oneor more holes in the frame 10 and/or the structure 17, thereby couplingthe panel 22 to the frame 10 and/or the structure 17. The connectors 30may be added to (or otherwise coupled) to the panel 22 (and/or frame 10and/or structure 17), the connectors 30 may be formed integral with (orformed as a part of) the panel 22 (and/or frame 10 and/or structure 17),or any combination of the preceding.

The connectors 30 may have any size and/or shape that may allow theconnectors 30 to uncouple the panel 22 when a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22. For example, the length of theconnectors 30 (such as one or more mechanical fasteners) may be selectedto cause the connectors 30 to break, fail, or otherwise uncouple thepanel 22 when the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22. The connectors 30 may be formed from any material that mayallow the connectors 30 to uncouple the panel 22 when a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. For example, theconnectors 30 may be formed from rubber, plastic, a polymer, a foam, ametal (such as aluminum, stainless steel, spring steel, a galvanizedmaterial, any other metal, or any combination of the preceding), anyother material that may allow the connectors 30 to uncouple the panel 22when a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22, orany combination of the preceding. In particular, the connectors 30 (suchas one or more mechanical fasteners) may be formed from a particularplastic (for example) that causes the mechanical fasteners to break orfail when the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel22.

As is discussed above, the connectors 30 may be configured to uncouplethe panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/or structure 17) when, for example,a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. Inparticular embodiments, the predetermined amount of pressure may referto the lowest amount of pressure (or approximately the lowest amount ofpressure) that would cause the panel 22 to prevent the equalization ofinterior and exterior hydrostatic forces caused by a fluid (such asflooding water) attempting to flow through the flood vent 8. As anexample, the predetermined amount of pressure may be 0.5 PSI, 1 PSI, 1.5PSI, 2 PSI, 2.5 PSI, 3 PSI, 3.5 PSI, 4 PSI, 4.5 PSI, 5 PSI, 6 PSI, 7PSI, 10 PSI, approximately 0.5 PSI (i.e., 0.5 PSI+/−0.2 PSI),approximately 1 PSI, approximately 1.5 PSI, approximately 2 PSI,approximately 2.5 PSI, approximately 3 PSI, approximately 3.5 PSI,approximately 4 PSI, approximately 4.5 PSI, approximately 5 PSI,approximately 6 PSI, approximately 7 PSI, approximately 10 PSI, or anyother amount of pressure that may prevent the equalization of interiorand exterior hydrostatic forces caused by a fluid (such as floodingwater) attempting to flow through the flood vent 8. As a furtherexample, the predetermined amount of pressure may be a pressure range of0.5 PSI-7 PSI, 0.5-5.0 PSI, 0.5-4.0 PSI, 0.5-3.0 PSI, 1.0-7.0 PSI,1.0-5.0 PSI, 1.0-4.0 PSI, 1.0-3.0 PSI, 1.5-7.0 PSI, 1.5-5.0 PSI, 1.5-4.0PSI, 1.5-3.0 PSI, 2.0-7.0 PSI, 2.0-5.0 PSI, 2.0-4.0 PSI, 2.0-3.0 PSI, orany other pressure range that may prevent the equalization of interiorand exterior hydrostatic forces caused by a fluid (such as floodingwater) attempting to flow through the flood vent 8.

In particular embodiments, the predetermined amount of pressure may bethe lowest pressure at which the connectors 30 may be configured touncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/or structure 17). Forexample, if an amount of pressure below the predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22, the connectors 30 may not uncouplethe panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/or structure). On the other hand, ifan amount of pressure equal to the predetermined amount of pressure (orabove the predetermined amount of pressure) is applied to the panel 22,the connectors 30 may uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/orstructure 17).

In particular embodiments, the connectors 30 may be configured touncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/or structure 17) if thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to any portion of the panel22. For example, the connectors 30 may be configured to uncouple thepanel 22 from the frame 10 (and/or structure 17) if the predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to a bottom portion of the panel 22, a topportion of the panel 22, a left and/or right side portion of the panel22, any other portion of the panel 22, or any combination of thepreceding. In particular embodiments, the predetermined amount ofpressure for causing the connectors 30 to uncouple the panel 22 from theframe 10 (and/or structure 17) may change based on (or be a function of)the portion of the panel 22 to which the predetermined amount ofpressure is applied. For example, the predetermined amount of pressuremay be greater if the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thebottom portion of the panel 22 (which may be indicative of a less amountof flooding fluids, for example) than if the predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the top portion of the panel 22 (which may beindicative of a greater amount of flooding fluids, for example). Inparticular embodiments, the predetermined amount of pressure for causingthe connectors 30 to uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/orstructure 17) may change based on (or be a function of) the type ofpanel 22 included in the flood vent 8. For example, the predeterminedamount of pressure may be less if the panel 22 is a panel without anyopenings 26 (or with openings that may be closed, using louvers, forexample) than if the panel 22 includes openings 26 that may not beclosed (or if the panel 22 is a screen). In such an example, a panel 22without openings 26 (when compared to a panel 22 with openings 26) maymore easily (or quickly) prevent equalization of interior and exteriorhydrostatic forces caused by a fluid, and therefore it may beadvantageous to uncouple the panel 22 without openings 26 at a loweramount of pressure (when compared to a panel 22 with openings 26). Asanother example, the predetermined amount of pressure may be less if thepanel 22 is a panel with less openings 26 (and/or with smaller openings26) than if the panel 22 includes more openings 26 (and/or has biggeropenings 26). In such an example, a panel 22 with less openings 26 (whencompared to a panel 22 with more openings 26) may more easily (orquickly) prevent equalization of interior and exterior hydrostaticforces caused by a fluid, and therefore it may be advantageous touncouple the panel 22 with less openings 26 at a lower amount ofpressure (when compared to a panel 22 with more openings 26).

In particular embodiments, the connectors 30 may be configured touncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/or structure 17) if thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to any side of the panel 22.For example, the connectors 30 may be configured to uncouple the panel22 from the frame 10 (and/or structure 17) if the predetermined amountof pressure is applied to side 24 b of the panel 22 (e.g., the side ofthe panel 22 facing the interior of the structure 17), thereby causingthe panel 22 to be uncoupled from the frame 10 and be carried by thefluids, for example, outside of the structure 17, as is illustrated inFIGS. 3A-3C. In particular embodiments, this may cause panel 22 to beuncoupled from the frame 10 (and/or structure 17) when flooding fluids,for example, enter the flood vent 8 from inside the structure 17. Asanother example, the connectors 30 may be configured to uncouple thepanel 22 from the frame 10 (and/or structure 17) if the predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to side 24 a of the panel 22 (e.g., theside of the panel 22 facing the exterior of the structure 17), therebycausing the panel 22 to be uncoupled from the frame 10 and be carried bythe fluids, for example, inside of the structure 17 (e.g., in adirection from left-to-right in FIGS. 3A-3C). In particular embodiments,this may cause panel 22 to be uncoupled from the frame 10 (and/orstructure 17) when flooding fluids, for example, enter the flood vent 8from outside the structure 17. As a further example, the connectors 30may be configured to uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/orstructure 17) if the predetermnnined amount of pressure is applied toeither the side 24 b of the panel 22 (e.g., the side of the panel 22facing the interior of the structure 17) or the side 24 a of the panel22 (e.g., the side of the panel 22 facing the exterior of the structure17). In particular embodiments, this may cause panel 22 to be uncoupledfrom the frame 10 (and/or structure 17) when flooding fluids, forexample, enter the flood vent 8 from either inside the structure 17 oroutside the structure 17.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the flood vent 8of FIGS. 3A-3C without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Forexample, although the panel 22 has been described above as beingentirely uncoupled from the frame 10 (and/or structure 17), inparticular embodiments, only a portion of the panel 22 may be uncoupledfrom the frame 10 (and/or structure 17). In such an example, a firstportion of the panel 22 (e.g., an inner area of the panel 22) may beuncoupled from the frame 10 (and/or structure 17) when the predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 (and/or the first portionof the panel 22), while the second portion of the panel 22 (e.g., anouter area of the panel 22) may remain coupled to the frame 10 (and/orstructure 17). Furthermore, in such an example, connectors 30 may beconfigured to couple the first portion of the panel 22 to the secondportion of the panel 22 (and/or the frame 10 and/or the structure 17).As another example, although the flood vent 8 has been described aboveas including a frame 10, in particular embodiments, the flood vent 8 maynot include a frame 10. In such embodiments, the panel 22 may beconfigured to be coupled directly to the structure 17. As such, inparticular embodiments, the panel 22 may be inserted into (or installedon) the structure 17 (such as the opening 18 in the structure 17)without the use of a frame 10, and the connector(s) 30 may couple thepanel 22 directly to the structure 17.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate the flood vent 8 of FIGS. 1-2 having exampleconnectors 40. Connectors 40 may be configured to couple the frame 10 tothe structure 17. Furthermore, the connectors 40 may be furtherconfigured to uncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17. For example,the connectors 40 may be configured uncouple the frame 10 from thestructure 17 when a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22 and/or the frame 10, such as by a fluid or an object (such as atree limb or dirt) carried by the fluid. As such, in particularembodiments, the panel 22 of flood vent 8 may prevent (or substantiallyprevent) objects and/or fluids from passing through the flood vent 8until a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22and/or the frame 10, and after the predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10, the frame 10 (along withthe panel 22) may be uncoupled from the structure 17 and the panel 22may no longer prevent objects and/or fluids from passing through theopening 18 in the structure 17 (or the amount of blockage of the fluidpassing through the opening 18 may be reduced). This may, in particularembodiments, allow the flood vent 8 to provide for equalization ofhydrostatic forces caused by, for example, flooding fluids, even whenthe flooding fluids carry objects (such as debris) that may clog theopenings 26 in the panel 22, when the openings 26 in the panel 22 aretoo small to allow sufficient fluids to pass through the flood vent 8,when the openings 26 in the panel are closed, and/or when the panel 22does not include any openings 26.

As is discussed above with regard to FIGS. 1-2, the flood vent 8includes a frame 10 and a panel 22. The frame 10 may be configured to beinserted into an opening 18 in a structure 17, and may be furtherconfigured to form a fluid passageway through the opening 18 in thestructure 17, thereby allowing the flooding fluids to enter and/or exitthe structure 17. The frame 10 may be coupled to the structure 18 usingone or more connectors 40. The flood vent 8 further includes the panel22. The panel 22 may be configured to be coupled to the frame 10.Furthermore, the panel 22 may be configured to be coupled to the frame10 in the fluid passageway formed by the frame 10. Additionally, whencoupled to the frame 10, the panel 22 may at least partially block thefluid passageway formed by the frame 10, an example of which is seen inFIGS. 4A-4B. The panel 22 may be coupled to the frame 10 in any manner.For example, the panel 22 may be formed integral with the frame 10,welded to the frame 10, coupled to the frame 10 using an adhesive (suchas glue, cement, and/or Lexel®), attached to the frame 10 using one ormore pins that may be inserted or snapped into one or more channels orhooks in the frame 10, attached to the frame 10 using one or morerivets, nails, and/or any other connector, coupled to the frame 10 inany other manner, or any combination of the preceding. The panel 22 maybe any type of panel. For example, as is illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4B, thepanel 22 may be a solid panel that may prevent all (or substantiallyall) fluids (such as water and/or air) from passing through the panel22, as well as preventing (or substantially preventing) objects (such assmall animals) from passing through the panel 22. As another example,the panel 22 may include one or more openings 26 configured to allowfluids (such as water and/or air) to pass through the panel 22, butprevent objects (such as small animals) from passing through the panel22.

A connector 40 may be any type of connector that may couple the frame 10to the structure 17, and that may further uncouple the frame 10 from thestructure 17 when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22 and/or frame 10. As a first example, a connector40 may be an adhesive configured to couple the frame 10 to the structure17, and that may be further configured to uncouple the frame 10 from thestructure 17 when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10. The adhesive may includeany adhesive substance that may adhere the frame 10 to the structure 17,such as glue, cement, Lexel® adhesive, any other adhesive substance thatmay adhere the frame 10 to the structure 17, or any combination of thepreceding. Furthermore, the adhesive may be further configured touncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or theframe 10. For example, the adhesive may be configured to peel off,break, or otherwise uncouple from the frame 10 and/or structure 17 when,for example, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel22 and/or the frame 10. In particular embodiments, the adhesive may beengineered and/or modified to peel off, break, or otherwise uncouplefrom the frame 10 and/or structure 17 when, for example, a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10. Inparticular embodiments, the amount of adhesive used to adhere the frame10 to the structure 17 may be selected to cause the adhesive to peeloff, break, or otherwise uncouple from the frame 10 and/or structure 17when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22 and/or the frame 10.

The adhesive may include one or more portions of the adhesive coupled tothe frame 10 and/or the structure 17, thereby coupling the frame 10 tothe structure 17, as is illustrated in FIG. 4A. Furthermore, theportions of the adhesive may continue to couple the frame 10 to thestructure 17 until a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22 and/or the frame 10 by, for example, a fluid (such as floodingwater). Once the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22 and/or the frame 10, the adhesive may peel off, break, orotherwise uncouple from the panel 22 and/or the structure 17, as is seenin FIG. 4B. This may uncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17,causing the frame 10 to be completely separated from the structure 17,and be carried away from the structure 17, as is seen in FIG. 4C. Assuch, in particular embodiments, the flood vent 8 may no longer preventobjects and/or fluids from passing through the opening 18 in thestructure 17 (or the amount of blockage of the fluid passing through theopening 18 may be reduced).

As a second example, a connector 40 may be one or more raised bumps (orraised lips) in the opening 18 of the structure 17. The raised bumps mayallow a frame 10 to be installed in the opening 18, thereby couplingframe 10 to the structure 17. For example, an installer (such as aperson) may push the frame 10 into the opening 18 with enough force tocause the frame 10 to move past the first set of raised bumps. In suchan example, the frame 10 may then rest in a gap in-between (orsandwiched by) the first set of bumps and a second set of bumps, therebycoupling the frame 10 to the structure 17. Furthermore, the raised bumpsmay continue to couple the frame 10 to the structure 17 until apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or theframe 10 by, for example, a fluid (such as flooding water). Once thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or theframe 10, the frame 10 may be forced past a set of the raised bumps.This may uncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17, causing the frame10 to be completely separated from the structure 17, and be carried awayfrom the structure 17. As such, in particular embodiments, the floodvent 8 may no longer prevent objects and/or fluids from passing throughthe opening 18 in the structure 17 (or the amount of blockage of thefluid passing through the opening 18 may be reduced).

As a third example, a connector 40 may be one or more pieces of velcroconfigured to couple the frame 10 to the structure 17, and that may befurther configured to uncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17 when,for example, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel22 and/or the frame 10. The pieces of velcro may include, for example,one or more first pieces of velcro that are coupled to the frame 10, andone or more second pieces of velcro that are coupled to the structure17. The first pieces of velcro may be coupled to the second pieces ofvelcro, thereby coupling the frame 10 to the structure 17. Furthermore,the pieces of velcro may continue to couple the frame 10 to thestructure 17 until a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22 and/or the frame 10 by, for example, a fluid (such as floodingwater). Once the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22 and/or the frame 10, the coupling between the pieces of velcromay be broken. This may uncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17,causing the frame 10 to be completely separated from the structure 17,and be carried away from the structure 17. As such, in particularembodiments, the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objects and/orfluids from passing through the opening 18 in the structure 17 (or theamount of blockage of the fluid passing through the opening 18 may bereduced).

As a fourth example, a connector 40 may be one or more mechanicalfasteners configured to couple the frame 10 to the structure 17, andthat may be further configured to uncouple the frame 10 from thestructure 17 when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10. The mechanical fastenersmay include one or more devices that may mechanically fasten the frame10 to the structure 17, such as one or more nails, screws, rivets, nutsand bolts, rods and studs, anchors, pins, retaining rings and/or clips,any other devices that may mechanically fasten the frame 10 to thestructure 17, or any combination of the preceding. Furthermore, themechanical fasteners may be further configured to uncouple the frame 10from the structure 17 when, for example, a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10. For example,the mechanical fasteners may be configured to break or otherwiseuncouple from the frame 10 and/or structure 17 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or theframe 10. In particular embodiments, the mechanical fasteners may beengineered and/or modified to break or otherwise uncouple from the frame10 and/or structure 17 when, for example, a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10.

The mechanical fasteners may include one or more mechanical fastenerscoupled to the frame 10 and/or the structure 17, thereby coupling theframe 10 to the structure 17. Furthermore, the mechanical fasteners maycontinue to couple the frame 10 to the structure 17 until apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or theframe 10 by, for example, a fluid (such as flooding water). Once thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or theframe 10, the mechanical fasteners may break or otherwise uncouple fromthe frame 10 and/or structure 17. This may uncouple the frame 10 fromthe structure 17, causing the frame 10 to be completely separated fromthe structure 17, and be carried away from the structure 17. As such, inparticular embodiments, the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objectsand/or fluids from passing through the opening 18 in the structure 17(or the amount of blockage of the fluid passing through the opening 18may be reduced).

As a fifth example, a connector 40 may be one or more pressure-basedconnectors configured to couple the frame 10 to the structure 17, andthat may be further configured to uncouple the frame 10 from thestructure 17 when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10. The pressure-basedconnectors may include any type of connector that may apply pressure (orotherwise utilize pressure) to couple the frame 10 to the structure 17.As an example, the pressure-based connectors may be a pressure-basedclip (such as a spring clip) configured to fit in-between the outeredges 11 of the frame 10 and the edges 19 of the opening 18. In such anexample, when the frame 10 is installed into the opening 18, thepressure-based connectors may be compressed by the outer edges 11 of theframe 10 and the edges 19 of the opening 18, thereby causing thepressure-based connectors to push outward against the edges 19 of theopening 18 and inward against the outer edges 11 of the frame 10. Suchpressure applied by the pressure-based connectors (along with friction,in particular embodiments) may at least couple the frame 10 to thestructure 17. Furthermore, although the pressure-based connectors havebeen described above as being a separate component from the frame 10, inparticular embodiments, the pressure-based connectors may be a part ofthe frame 10, itself. For example, the pressure-based connectors may beformed integral with (or as a portion of) the frame 10.

The pressure-based connectors may be further configured to uncouple theframe 10 from the structure 17 when, for example, a predetermined amountof pressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10. For example,the pressure-based connectors may be configured to break, slip off, orotherwise uncouple from the frame 10 and/or structure 17 when, forexample, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22and/or the frame 10. In particular embodiments, the amount of pressureapplied by the pressure-based connectors may be configured to beovercome by the predetermined amount of pressure applied to the panel 22and/or the frame 10 by, for example, the fluid.

The pressure-based connectors may include one or more pressure-basedconnectors coupled to (and/or applying pressure to) the frame 10 and/orthe structure 17, thereby coupling the frame 10 to the structure 17.Furthermore, the pressure-based connectors may continue to couple theframe 10 to the structure 17 until a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10 by, for example, a fluid(such as flooding water). Once the predetennined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10, the pressure-basedconnectors may break, slip off, or otherwise uncouple from the frame 10and/or structure 17. This may uncouple the frame 10 from the structure17, causing the frame 10 to be completely separated from the structure17, and be carried away from the structure 17. As such, in particularembodiments, the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objects and/orfluids from passing through the opening 18 in the structure 17 (or theamount of blockage of the fluid passing through the opening 18 may bereduced).

The flood vent 8 may include any number of connectors 40. For example,the flood vent 8 may include one connector 40, two connectors 40, threeconnectors 40, four connectors 40, six connectors 40, eight connectors40, ten connectors 40, or any other number of connectors 40. Theconnectors 40 may be attached or otherwise coupled to any portion of theframe 10 and/or structure 17 (and/or the panel 22). For example, theconnectors 40 may be attached to the edges 11 of the frame 10 and/or theedges 19 of the opening 18 of the structure 17. As another example, theconnectors 40 (such as screws) may be positioned through one or moreholes (such as one or more screw holes) in rails 12 (for example) of theframe 10, and inserted into one or more holes in the structure 17,thereby coupling the frame 10 to the structure 17. The connectors 40 maybe added to (or otherwise be coupled to) the frame 10 (and/or structure17 and/or the panel 22), the connectors 40 may be formed integral with(or formed as a part of) the frame 10 (and/or the panel 22), or anycombination of the preceding.

The connectors 40 may have any size and/or shape that may allow theconnectors 40 to uncouple the frame 10 when a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10. For example,the length of the connectors 40 (such as one or more mechanicalfasteners) may be selected to cause the connectors 40 to break, fail, orotherwise uncouple the frame 10 when the predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10. The connectors40 may be formed from any material that may allow the connectors 40 touncouple the frame 10 when a predetermined amount of pressure is appliedto the panel 22 and/or the frame 10. For example, the connectors 40 maybe formed from rubber, plastic, a polymer, a foam, a metal (such asaluminum, stainless steel, spring steel, a galvanized material, anyother metal, or any combination of the preceding), an adhesive, anyother material that may allow the connectors 40 to uncouple the frame 10when a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22and/or the frame 10, or any combination of the preceding. In particular,the connectors 40 (such as one or more mechanical fasteners) may beformed from a particular plastic (for example) that causes themechanical fastener to break or fail when the predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10.

As is discussed above, the connectors 40 may be configured to uncouplethe frame 10 from the structure 17 when, for example, a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10. Inparticular embodiments, the predetermined amount of pressure may referto the lowest amount of pressure (or approximately the lowest amount ofpressure) that would cause the panel 22 to prevent the equalization ofinterior and exterior hydrostatic forces caused by a fluid (such asflooding water) attempting to flow through the flood vent 8. As anexample, the predetermined amount of pressure may be 0.5 PSI, 1 PSI, 1.5PSI, 2 PSI, 2.5 PSI, 3 PSI, 3.5 PSI, 4 PSI, 4.5 PSI, 5 PSI, 6 PSI, 7PSI, 10 PSI, approximately 0.5 PSI (i.e., 0.5 PSI+/−0.2 PSI),approximately 1 PSI, approximately 1.5 PSI, approximately 2 PSI,approximately 2.5 PSI, approximately 3 PSI, approximately 3.5 PSI,approximately 4 PSI, approximately 4.5 PSI, approximately 5 PSI,approximately 6 PSI, approximately 7 PSI, approximately 10 PSI, or anyother amount of pressure that may prevent the equalization of interiorand exterior hydrostatic forces caused by a fluid (such as floodingwater) attempting to flow through the flood vent 8. As a furtherexample, the predetermined amount of pressure may be a pressure range of0.5 PSI-7 PSI, 0.5-5.0 PSI, 0.5-4.0 PSI, 0.5-3.0 PSI, 1.0-7.0 PSI,1.0-5.0 PSI, 1.0-4.0 PSI, 1.0-3.0 PSI, 1.5-7.0 PSI, 1.5-5.0 PSI, 1.5-4.0PSI, 1.5-3.0 PSI, 2.0-7.0 PSI, 2.0-5.0 PSI, 2.0-4.0 PSI, 2.0-3.0 PSI, orany other pressure range that may prevent the equalization of interiorand exterior hydrostatic forces caused by a fluid (such as floodingwater) attempting to flow through the flood vent 8.

In particular embodiments, the predetermined amount of pressure may bethe lowest pressure at which the connectors 40 may be configured touncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17. For example, if an amountof pressure below the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22 and/or the frame 10, the connectors 40 may not uncouple theframe 10 from the structure 17. On the other hand, if an amount ofpressure equal to the predetermined amount of pressure (or above thepredetermined amount of pressure) is applied to the panel 22 and/or theframe 10, the connectors 40 may uncouple the frame 10 from the structure17.

In particular embodiments, the connectors 40 may be configured touncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17 if the predetermined amountof pressure is applied to any portion of the panel 22 and/or frame 10.For example, the connectors 40 may be configured to uncouple the frame10 from the structure 17 if the predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to a bottom portion of the panel 22 (and/or the frame 10), a topportion of the panel 22 (and/or the frame 10), a left and/or right sideportion of the panel 22 (and/or the frame 10), any other portion of thepanel 22 (and/or the frame 10), or any combination of the preceding. Inparticular embodiments, the predetermined amount of pressure for causingthe connectors 40 to uncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17 maychange based on (or be a function of) the portion of the panel 22(and/or the frame 10) to which the predetermined amount of pressure isapplied. For example, the predetermined amount of pressure may begreater if the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the bottomportion of the panel 22 (and/or the frame 10) (which may be indicativeof a less amount of flooding fluids, for example) than if thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the top portion of thepanel 22 (and/or the frame 10) (which may be indicative of a greateramount of flooding fluids, for example). In particular embodiments, thepredetermined amount of pressure for causing the connectors 40 touncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17 may change based on (or be afunction of) the type of panel 22 included in the flood vent 8. Forexample, the predetermined amount of pressure may be less if the panel22 is a panel without any openings 26 (or with openings 26 that may beclosed, using louvers, for example) than if the panel 22 includesopenings 26 that may not be closed (or if the panel 22 is a screen). Insuch an example, a panel 22 without openings 26 (when compared to apanel 22 with openings 26) may more easily (or quickly) preventequalization of interior and exterior hydrostatic forces caused by afluid, and therefore it may be advantageous to uncouple the panel 22without openings 26 at a lower amount of pressure (when compared to apanel 22 with openings 26). As another example, the predetermined amountof pressure may be less if the panel 22 is a panel with less openings 26(and/or with smaller openings 26) than if the panel 22 includes moreopenings 26 (and/or has bigger openings 26). In such an example, a panel22 with less openings 26 (when compared to a panel 22 with more openings26) may more easily (or quickly) prevent equalization of interior andexterior hydrostatic forces caused by a fluid, and therefore it may beadvantageous to uncouple the panel 22 with less openings 26 at a loweramount of pressure (when compared to a panel 22 with more openings 26).

In particular embodiments, the connectors 40 may be configured touncouple the panel 22 from the frame if the predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to any side of the panel 22. For example, theconnectors 40 may be configured to uncouple the panel 22 from the frameif the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to side 24 b of thepanel 22 (e.g., the side of the panel 22 facing the interior of thestructure 17), thereby causing the frame 10 to be uncoupled from thestructure 17 and be carried by the fluids, for example, outside of thestructure 17, as is illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C. In particularembodiments, this may cause the frame 10 to be uncoupled from thestructure 17 when flooding fluids, for example, enter the flood vent 8from inside the structure 17. As another example, the connectors 40 maybe configured to uncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17 if thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to side 24 a the panel 22(e.g., the side of the panel 22 facing the exterior of the structure17), thereby causing the frame 10 to be uncoupled from the structure 17and be carried by the fluids, for example, inside of the structure 17(e.g., in a direction from left-to-right in FIGS. 4A-4C). In particularembodiments, this may cause the frame 10 to be uncoupled from thestructure 17 when flooding fluids, for example, enter the flood vent 8from outside the structure 17. Furthermore, in such embodiments, theframe 10 may not include rails 12 that may prevent the frame 10 frombeing carried inside of the structure 17. As a further example, theconnectors 40 may be configured to uncouple the frame 10 from thestructure 17 if the predetermined amount of pressure is applied toeither the side 24 b of the panel 22 (e.g., the side of the panel 22facing the interior of the structure 17) or the side 24 a of the panel22 (e.g., the side of the panel 22 facing the exterior of the structure17). In particular embodiments, this may cause the frame 10 to beuncoupled from the structure 17 when flooding fluids, for example, enterthe flood vent 8 from either inside the structure 17 or outside thestructure 17.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the flood vent 8of FIGS. 4A-4C without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Forexample, the flood vent 8 of FIGS. 4A-4C may include one or morecomponents of the flood vent 8 of FIGS. 3A-3C. In such an example, theflood vent 8 may include one or more connectors 30 that may beconfigured to uncouple the panel 22 from the frame 10 (and/or thestructure 17) when a first predetermined amount of pressure is appliedto the panel 22 (as is discussed above with regard to FIGS. 3A-3C), andmay further include one or more connectors 40 that may be configured touncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17 when a second predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or the frame 10. Thefirst predetermined amount of pressure (which may uncouple the panel 22from the frame 10 and/or structure 17) may be less than the secondpredetermined amount of pressure (which may uncouple the frame 10 fromthe structure 17). For example, the first predetermined amount ofpressure may be a pressure range of 0.5 PSI-7 PSI (or any of thepressures or pressure ranges discussed above) while the secondpredetermined amount of pressure may be a pressure range of 1.5 PSI-8PSI (or any of the pressures or pressure ranges discussed above andfurther being greater than the first predetermined amount of pressure).As such, if a fluid (such as flooding water) applies a firstpredetermined amount of pressure to the panel 22, the panel 22 may beuncoupled from the frame 10 and/or the structure (which may reduce theamount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel 22).Furthermore, in an example where the fluid (such as the flooding water)continues to rise and apply additional force, if the fluid applies thesecond predetermined amount of pressure to the frame 10 (and/or theremainder of the panel 22, if any), the frame 10 may be uncoupled fromthe structure 17 (which may further reduce the amount of blockage of thefluid). As such, the flood vent 8 may be able to further provide forequalization of interior and exterior hydrostatic forces caused byflooding waters.

FIGS. 5A-6C illustrate the flood vent 8 of FIGS. 1-2 with a panel 22having example perforations 60. Perforations 60 may be configured touncouple at least a portion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8. Forexample, the perforations 60 may be configured to uncouple at least aportion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8 when a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22, such as by a fluid or anobject (such as a tree limb or dirt) carried by the fluid. As such, inparticular embodiments, the panel 22 of flood vent 8 may prevent (orsubstantially prevent) objects and/or fluids from passing through theflood vent 8 until a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22, and after the predetermined amount of pressure is applied tothe panel 22, the at least a portion of the panel 22 may be uncoupledfrom the flood vent 8 and may no longer prevent objects and/or fluidsfrom passing through the flood vent 8 (or the amount of blockage of thefluid passageway provided by the panel 22 may be reduced). This may, inparticular embodiments, allow the flood vent 8 to provide forequalization of hydrostatic forces caused by, for example, floodingfluids, even when the flooding fluids carry objects (such as debris)that may clog the openings 26 in the panel 22, when the openings 26 inthe panel 22 are too small to allow sufficient fluids to pass throughthe flood vent 8, when the openings 26 in the panel are closed, and/orwhen the panel 22 does not include any openings 26.

As is discussed above with regard to FIGS. 1-2, the flood vent 8includes a frame 10 and a panel 22. The frame 10 may be configured to beinserted into an opening 18 in a structure 17, and may be furtherconfigured to form a fluid passageway through the opening 18 in thestructure 17, thereby allowing the flooding fluids to enter and/or exitthe structure 17. The panel 22 may be configured to be coupled to theframe 10. Furthermore, the panel 22 may be configured to be coupled tothe frame 10 in the fluid passageway formed by the frame 10.Additionally, when coupled to the frame 10, the panel 22 may at leastpartially block the fluid passageway formed by the frame 10, an exampleof which is seen in FIG. 5C. The panel 22 may be coupled to the frame 10in any manner. For example, the panel 22 may be formed integral with theframe 10, welded to the frame 10, coupled to the frame 10 using anadhesive (such as glue, cement, and/or Lexel®), attached to the frame 10using one or more pins that may be inserted or snapped into one or morechannels or hooks in the frame 10, attached to the frame 10 using one ormore rivets, nails, and/or any other connector, attached to thestructure 17 (and thus the frame 10) using one or more rivets, nails,and/or any other connector, coupled to the frame 10 in any other manner,or any combination of the preceding. The panel 22 may be any type ofpanel. For example, as is illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5E, the panel 22 maybe a solid panel that may prevent all (or substantially all) fluids(such as water and/or air) from passing through the panel 22, as well asprevent (or substantially prevent) objects (such as small animals) frompassing through the panel 22. As another example, as is illustrated inFIGS. 6A-6B, the panel 22 may include one or more openings 26 configuredto allow fluids (such as water and/or air) to pass through the panel 22,but prevent objects (such as small animals) from passing through thepanel 22.

As illustrated, the panel 22 includes one or more perforations 60configured to uncouple at least a portion of the panel 22 from the floodvent 8 when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure is appliedto the panel 22, such as by a fluid or an object (such as a tree limb ordirt) carried by the fluid. A perforation 60 may be any type ofcharacteristic or feature of the panel 22 that may uncouple at least aportion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. Forexample, a perforation 60 may be any type of reduction in the thickness25 (or any other dimension) of the panel 22 at one or more points on thepanel 22, which may cause the panel 22 to break or fail at theperforation 60 when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22. In such an example, a perforation 60 may be acut-out of the material of the panel 22 (as is illustrated in FIG. 5B),a stamp in the material of the panel 22, one or more channels in thepanel 22, any other feature that may reduce the thickness 25 (or anyother dimension) of the panel 22 at one or more points on the panel 22,or any combination of the preceding. As another example, a perforation60 may be one or more holes (or one or more rows of holes) in the panel22, which may cause the panel 22 to break or fail at the perforation 60when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22. As a further example, a perforation 60 may be a pre-stressedportion (or weak portion) of the panel 22, which may cause the panel 22to break or fail at the perforation 60 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. As anotherexample, a perforation 60 may be a pre-cut portion of the panel 22,which may cause the panel 22 to break or fail at the perforation 60when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22. As a further example, a perforation 60 may be a combination ofone or more (or all of) a reduction in the thickness 25 (or any otherdimension) of the panel 22 at one or more points on the panel 22, one ormore holes (or one or more rows of holes) in the panel 22, apre-stressed portion (or weak portion) of the panel 22, a pre-cutportion of the panel 22, or any other characteristic or feature of thepanel 22 that may uncouple at least a portion of the panel 22 from theflood vent 8.

The perforations 60 may be configured to uncouple any portion of thepanel 22 from the flood vent 8. As a first example, the perforations 60may be positioned so as uncouple the entire panel 22 from the frame 10.In such an example, the perforations 60 may positioned at any locationthat couples the panel 22 to the frame 10, such as at the edges 23 ofthe panel 22. The perforations 60 may couple the panel 22 to the frame10 until a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22by, for example, a fluid (such as flooding water). Once thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22, theperforations 60 may break or fail. This may uncouple the panel 22 fromthe frame 10, causing the panel 22 to be completely separated from theframe 10, and be carried away from the frame 10. As such, in particularembodiments, the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objects and/orfluids from passing through the opening 18 in the structure 17 (or theamount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel 22 maybe reduced).

As a second example, the perforations 60 may be positioned so asuncouple a portion of the panel 22 from another portion of the panel 22.For example, as is illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5E, the panel 22 may includea first portion 62 of the panel 22 and a second portion 64 of the panel22. Furthermore, perforations 60 may be located in-between the firstportion 62 and the second portion 64. As such, the perforations 60(and/or the area that includes the perforations 60) may couple thesecond portion 64 to the first portion 62 of the panel 22 until apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 (such as thesecond portion 64 of the panel) by, for example, a fluid (such asflooding water). Once the predetermined amount of pressure is applied tothe panel 22, the perforations 60 may break or fail. This break orfailure may uncouple the second portion 64 of the panel 22 from thefirst portion 62 of the panel 22, causing the second portion 64 to becompletely separated from the first portion 62, and be carried away fromthe first portion 62, as is illustrated in FIGS. 5C-5E. As such, inparticular embodiments, the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objectsand/or fluids from passing through the opening 18 in the structure 17(or the amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel22 may be reduced).

The first portion 62 of the panel 22 may include any area of the panel22, and the second portion 64 of the panel 22 may include any area ofthe panel. As one example, the first portion 62 of the panel 22 may bean outer area of the panel 22, and the second portion of the panel 22may be an inner area of the panel 22 that is surrounded (at leastpartially) be the outer area of the panel 22, as is illustrated in FIGS.5A-5B. As another example, the first portion 62 of the panel 22 may bean inner area of the panel 22, and the second portion of the panel 22may be an outer area of the panel 22 that surrounds (at least partially)the inner area of the panel 22. As another example, the first portion 62of the panel 22 may be a left-side area (or a right-side area, or atop-side area, or a bottom-side area) of the panel 22, and the secondportion of the panel 22 may be a right-side area (or a left-side area,or a top-side area, or a bottom-side area) of the panel 22. The firstportion 62 of the panel 22 may be any type of panel, and the secondportion 64 of the panel 22 may be any type of panel. For example, thefirst portion 62 of the panel 22 may be a solid panel, and the secondportion 64 of the panel 22 may include one or more openings 26, as isillustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B. As another example, the first portion 62 ofthe panel 22 may be a solid panel, and the second portion 64 of thepanel 22 may be a screen. As a further example, both the first portion62 and the second portion 64 of the panel 22 may be solid panels,screens, or panels with one or more openings 26.

The perforations 60 may be located at any position on the panel 22. Inparticular embodiments, the location of the perforations 60 may be basedon the edges 23 of the panel 22. For example, the perforations 60 (orthe portions of a perforation 60) may be located a perforation distance66 from the respective edges 23. The perforation distance 66 may be anydistance, such as 0.15″, 0.25″, 0.5″, 0.75″, 1″, 1.5″, 2″, 3″, 4″, lessthan 0.5″, less than 0.75″, less than 1″, less than 1.5″, less than 2″,less than 3″, less than 4″, or any other distance. The perforationdistance 66 may be the same for each perforation 60 (or for each portionof a perforation 60), or the perforation distance 66 may be differentfor one or more of the perforations 60 (or for one or more portions of aperforation 60).

The flood vent 8 may include any number of perforations 60. For example,the flood vent 8 may include one perforation 60, two perforations 60,three perforations 60, four perforations 60, six perforations 60, eightperforations 60, ten perforations 60, or any other number ofperforations 60. The perforations 60 may be included on a single side ofthe panel 22 (such as side 24 a of the panel 22 or side 24 b of thepanel 22) or may be included on both sides of the panel 22 (such as onboth sides 24 a and 24 b of the panel 22). Furthermore, whenperforations 60 are included on both sides of the panel 22, theperforations 60 may be located in the same location of the panel 22 onboth sides of the panel 22 (as is illustrated in FIGS. 5B and 6B), orthe perforations 60 may be located in different locations of the panel22 (or otherwise be off-center from each other), as is illustrated inFIG. 6C. The perforations 60 may be positioned in any pattern on thepanel 22. For example, the perforations 60 may completely surround theportion of the panel 22 that is uncoupled from the flood vent 8, as isillustrated in FIGS. 5A-5E. As another example, the perforations 60 mayat least substantially surround the portion of the panel 22 that isuncoupled from the flood vent 8 (i.e., the perforations 60 may surroundat least 90% of the portion of the panel 22 that is uncoupled from theflood vent 8). As a further example, the perforations 60 may surroundany other amount of the portion of the panel 22, so as to cause theportion of the panel 22 to be uncoupled from the flood vent 8 when apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22.

The perforations 60 may have any size and/or shape that may allow theperforations 60 to uncouple at least a portion of the panel 22 when apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. Forexample, the perforations 60 may be sized and/or shaped to reduce thethickness 25 of the panel 22 at one or more points of the panel 22 to athickness that is less than the other portions of the panel 22. Forexample, if the thickness 25 of the panel 22 is, for example, 1 inch,the perforations 60 may have a reduced thickness, such as, for example,0.75 inches, 0.5 inches, 0.4 inches, 0.33 inches, 0.3 inches, 0.25inches, 0.2 inches. 0.1 inches, approximately 0.75 inches (i.e., 0.75inches+/−0.1 inches), approximately 0.5 inches, approximately 0.4inches, approximately 0.33 inches, approximately 0.3 inches,approximately 0.25 inches, approximately 0.2 inches, or any otherthickness less than 1 inch. In particular embodiments, the reduction inthe thickness 25 of the panel 22 at one or more points of the panel 22may be selected to cause at least a portion of the panel 22 to uncouplefrom the flood vent 8 when a predetermined amount of pressure is appliedto the panel 22.

As is discussed above, the perforations 60 may be configured to uncoupleat least a portion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8 when, forexample, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22.In particular embodiments, the predetermined amount of pressure mayrefer to the lowest amount of pressure (or approximately the lowestamount of pressure) that would cause the panel 22 to prevent theequalization of interior and exterior hydrostatic forces caused by afluid (such as flooding water) attempting to flow through the flood vent8. As an example, the predetermined amount of pressure may be 0.5 PSI, 1PSI, 1.5 PSI, 2 PSI, 2.5 PSI, 3 PSI, 3.5 PSI, 4 PSI, 4.5 PSI, 5 PSI, 6PSI, 7 PSI, 10 PSI, approximately 0.5 PSI (i.e., 0.5 PSI+/−0.2 PSI),approximately 1 PSI, approximately 1.5 PSI, approximately 2 PSI,approximately 2.5 PSI, approximately 3 PSI, approximately 3.5 PSI,approximately 4 PSI, approximately 4.5 PSI, approximately 5 PSI,approximately 6 PSI, approximately 7 PSI, approximately 10 PSI, or anyother amount of pressure that may prevent the equalization of interiorand exterior hydrostatic forces caused by a fluid (such as floodingwater) attempting to flow through the flood vent 8. As a furtherexample, the predetermined amount of pressure may be a pressure range of0.5 PSI-7 PSI, 0.5-5.0 PSI, 0.5-4.0 PSI, 0.5-3.0 PSI, 1.0-7.0 PSI,1.0-5.0 PSI, 1.0-4.0 PSI, 1.0-3.0 PSI, 1.5-7.0 PSI, 1.5-5.0 PSI, 1.5-4.0PSI, 1.5-3.0 PSI, 2.0-7.0 PSI, 2.0-5.0 PSI, 2.0-4.0 PSI, 2.0-3.0 PSI, orany other pressure range that may prevent the equalization of interiorand exterior hydrostatic forces caused by a fluid (such as floodingwater) attempting to flow through the flood vent 8.

In particular embodiments, the predetermined amount of pressure may bethe lowest pressure at which the perforations 60 may be configured touncouple at least a portion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8. Forexample, if an amount of pressure below the predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22, the perforations 60 may notuncouple at least a portion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8. Onthe other hand, if an amount of pressure equal to the predeterminedamount of pressure (or above the predetermined amount of pressure) isapplied to the panel 22, the perforations 60 may uncouple at least aportion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8.

In particular embodiments, the perforations 60 may be configured touncouple at least a portion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8 if thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to any portion of the panel22. For example, the perforations 60 may be configured to uncouple atleast a portion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8 if thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to a bottom portion of thepanel 22 (or a bottom portion of second portion 64), a top portion ofthe panel 22 (or a top portion of second portion 64), a left and/orright side portion of the panel 22 (or a left and/or right side portionof second portion 64), any other portion of the panel 22, or anycombination of the preceding. In particular embodiments, thepredetermined amount of pressure for causing the perforations 60 touncouple at least a portion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8 maychange based on (or be a function of) the portion of the panel 22 towhich the predetermined amount of pressure is applied. For example, thepredetermined amount of pressure may be greater if the predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the bottom portion of the panel 22 (ora bottom portion of second portion 64) (which may be indicative of aless amount of flooding fluids, for example) than if the predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the top portion of the panel 22 (or atop portion of second portion 64) (which may be indicative of a greateramount of flooding fluids, for example). In particular embodiments, thepredetermined amount of pressure for causing the perforations 60 touncouple at least a portion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8 maychange based on (or be a function of) the type of panel 22 included inthe flood vent 8. For example, the predetermined amount of pressure maybe less if the panel 22 is a panel without any openings 26 (or withopenings that may be closed, using louvers, for example) than if thepanel includes openings 26 that may not be closed (or if the panel 22 isa screen). In such an example, a panel 22 without openings 26 (whencompared to a panel 22 with openings 26) may more easily (or quickly)prevent equalization of interior and exterior hydrostatic forces causedby a fluid, and therefore it may be advantageous to uncouple the panel22 without openings 26 at a lower amount of pressure (when compared to apanel 22 with openings 26). As another example, the predetermined amountof pressure may be less if the panel 22 is a panel with less openings 26(and/or with smaller openings 26) than if the panel 22 includes moreopenings 26 (and/or has bigger openings 26). In such an example, a panel22 with less openings 26 (when compared to a panel 22 with more openings26) may more easily (or quickly) prevent equalization of interior andexterior hydrostatic forces caused by a fluid, and therefore it may beadvantageous to uncouple the panel 22 with less openings 26 at a loweramount of pressure (when compared to a panel 22 with more openings 26).

In particular embodiments, the perforations 60 may be configured touncouple the at least a portion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8 ifthe predetermined amount of pressure is applied to any side of the panel22. For example, the perforations 60 may be configured to uncouple atleast a portion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8 if thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to side 24 b of the panel 22(e.g., the side of the panel 22 facing the interior of the structure17), thereby causing at least a portion of the panel 22 to be uncoupledfrom the flood vent 8 and be carried by the fluids, for example, outsideof the structure 17, as is illustrated in FIGS. 5C-5E. In particularembodiments, this may cause the at least a portion of the panel 22 to beuncoupled from the flood vent 8 when flooding fluids, for example, enterthe flood vent 8 from inside the structure 17. As another example, theperforations 60 may be configured to uncouple at least a portion of thepanel 22 from the flood vent 8 if the predetermined amount of pressureis applied to side 24 a the panel 22 (e.g., the side of the panel 22facing the exterior of the structure 17), thereby causing at least aportion of the panel 22 to be uncoupled from the flood vent 8 and becarried by the fluids, for example, inside of the structure 17 (e.g., ina direction from left-to-right in FIGS. 5C-5E). In particularembodiments, this may cause at least a portion of the panel 22 to beuncoupled from the flood vent 8 when flooding fluids, for example, enterthe flood vent 8 from outside the structure 17. As a further example,the perforations 60 may be configured to uncouple at least a portion ofthe panel 22 from the flood vent 8 if the predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to either the side 24 b of the panel 22 (e.g., theside of the panel 22 facing the interior of the structure 17) or theside 24 a of the panel 22 (e.g., the side of the panel 22 facing theexterior of the structure 17). In particular embodiments, this may causeat least a portion of panel 22 to be uncoupled from the flood vent 8when flooding fluids, for example, enter the flood vent 8 from eitherinside the structure 17 or outside the structure 17.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the flood vent 8of FIGS. 5A-6C without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Forexample, the flood vent 8 of FIGS. 5A-6C may include one or morecomponents of the flood vent 8 of FIGS. 3A-3C and/or FIGS. 4A-4C. Insuch an example, the flood vent 8 may include a panel 22 having one ormore perforations 60 that may be configured to uncouple at least aportion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8 when a first predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22, may further include oneor more connectors 30 that may be configured to uncouple the panel 22from the frame 10 (and/or the structure 17) when a second predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 (as is discussed abovewith regard to FIGS. 3A-3C), and/or may further include one or moreconnectors 40 that may be configured to uncouple the frame 10 from thestructure 17 when a third predetermined amount of pressure is applied tothe panel 22 and/or the frame 10 (as is discussed above with regard toFIGS. 4A-4C). The first predetermined amount of pressure (which mayuncouple at least a portion of the panel 22 from the flood vent 8) maybe less than the second predetermined amount of pressure (which mayuncouple the remainder of the panel 22 from the frame 10), and thesecond predetermined amount of pressure may be less than the thirdpredetermined amount of pressure (which may uncouple the frame 10 fromthe structure 17). For example, the first predetermined amount ofpressure may be a pressure range of 0.5 PSI-7 PSI (or any of thepressures or pressure ranges discussed above), the second predeterminedamount of pressure may be a pressure range of 1.5 PSI-8 PSI (or any ofthe pressures or pressure ranges discussed above and further beinggreater than the first predetermined amount of pressure), and the thirdpredetermined amount of pressure may be a pressure range of 2.5 PSI-9PSI (or any of the pressures or pressure ranges discussed above andfurther being greater than the second predetermined amount of pressure).As such, if a fluid (such as flooding water) applies a firstpredetermined amount of pressure to the panel 22, at least a portion ofthe panel 22 may be uncoupled from the flood vent 8 (which may reducethe amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel22). Furthermore, in an example where the fluid (such as the floodingwater) continues to rise and apply additional force, if the fluidapplies the second predetermined amount of pressure to the remainder ofthe panel 22, the remainder of the panel 22 may be uncoupled from theframe 10 (which may further reduce the amount of blockage of the fluid).Additionally, in an example where the fluid (such as the flooding water)continues to rise and apply additional force, if the fluid applies thethird predetermined amount of pressure to the frame 10, the frame 10 maybe uncoupled from the structure 17 (which may further reduce the amountof blockage of the fluid). As such, the flood vent 8 may be able tofurther provide for equalization of interior and exterior hydrostaticforces caused by flooding waters.

As another example, the flood vent 8 of FIGS. 5A-6C may include a panel22 having more than one portion of the panel 22 that may be uncoupledfrom the flood vent 8. In such an example, the panel 22 may includethree or more portions separated by two or more perforations 60. Forexample, the panel 22 may have a first portion separated from a secondportion by a first perforation 60 configured to uncouple the secondportion from the first portion when a second predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22 (or to the second portion of thepanel 22). Furthermore, the second portion of the panel 22 may beseparated from a third portion of the panel 22 by a second perforationconfigured to uncouple the third portion from the second portion when afirst predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 (or tothe third portion of the panel 22). The first predetermined amount ofpressure (which may uncouple the third portion of the panel 22 from theflood vent 8) may be less than the second predetermined amount ofpressure (which may uncouple the second portion of the panel 22 from theflood vent 8). For example, the first predetermined amount of pressuremay be a pressure range of 0.5 PSI 7 PSI (or any of the pressures orpressure ranges discussed above) while the second predetermined amountof pressure may be a pressure range of 1.5 PSI-8 PSI (or any of thepressures or pressure ranges discussed above and further being greaterthan the first predetermined amount of pressure). As such, if a fluid(such as flooding water) applies a first predetermined amount ofpressure to the panel 22, the third portion may be uncoupled from theflood vent 8 (which may reduce the amount of blockage of the fluidpassageway provided by the panel 22). Furthermore, in an example wherethe fluid (such as the flooding water) continues to rise and applyadditional force, if the fluid applies the second predetermined amountof pressure to the remainder of the panel 22, the second portion of thepanel 22 may be uncoupled from the flood vent 8 (which may furtherreduce the amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by thepanel 22). As such, the flood vent 8 may be able to further provide forequalization of interior and exterior hydrostatic forces caused byflooding waters.

As a further example, although the flood vent 8 has been described aboveas including a frame 10, in particular embodiments, the flood vent 8 maynot include a frame 10. In such embodiments, the panel 22 may beconfigured to be coupled directly to the structure 17. As such, inparticular embodiments, the panel 22 may be inserted into (or installedon) the structure 17 (such as the opening 18 in the structure 17)without the use of a frame 10.

FIGS. 7A-7H illustrate the flood vent 8 of FIGS. 1-2 with a panel 22having a plurality of insulation pieces 70 and one or more insulationpiece connectors 80. The insulation pieces 70 may be configured to formthe panel 22, so as to at least partially block the fluid passagewayformed by the frame 10. The insulation piece connectors 80 may beconfigured to couple the insulation pieces 70 together to form the panel22. Furthermore, the insulation piece connectors 80 may be furtherconfigured to uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 from thepanel 22. For example, the insulation piece connectors 80 may beconfigured to uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 from thepanel 22 when a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel22, such as by a fluid or an object (such as a tree limb or dirt)carried by the fluid. As such, in particular embodiments, the panel 22of flood vent 8 may prevent (or substantially prevent) objects and/orfluids from passing through the flood vent 8 until a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22, and after thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22, one or moreof the insulation pieces 70 of the panel 22 may be uncoupled from thepanel 22 and may no longer prevent objects and/or fluids from passingthrough the flood vent 8 (or the amount of blockage of the fluidpassageway provided by the panel 22 may be reduced). This may, inparticular embodiments, allow the flood vent 8 to provide forequalization of hydrostatic forces caused by, for example, floodingfluids, even when the flooding fluids carry objects (such as debris)that may clog the openings 26 in the panel 22, when the openings 26 inthe panel 22 are too small to allow sufficient fluids to pass throughthe flood vent 8, when the openings 26 in the panel 22 are closed,and/or when the panel 22 does not include any openings 26.

As is discussed above with regard to FIGS. 1-2, the flood vent 8includes a frame 10 and a panel 22. The frame 10 may be configured to beinserted into an opening 18 in a structure 17, and may be furtherconfigured to form a fluid passageway through the opening 18 in thestructure 17, thereby allowing the flooding fluids to enter and/or exitthe structure 17. The panel 22 may be configured to be coupled to theframe 10. Furthermore, the panel 22 may be configured to be coupled tothe frame 10 in the fluid passageway formed by the frame 10.Additionally, when coupled to the frame 10, the panel 22 may at leastpartially block the fluid passageway formed by the frame 10, an exampleof which is seen in FIG. 7C. The panel 22 may be coupled to the frame 10in any manner. For example, the panel 22 may be coupled to the frame 10using an adhesive (such as glue, cement, and/or Lexel®), attached to theframe 10 using one or more pins that may be inserted or snapped into oneor more channels or hooks in the frame 10, attached to the frame 10using one or more rivets, nails, and/or any other connector, attached tothe structure 17 (and thus the frame 10) using one or more rivets,nails, and/or any other connector, coupled to the frame 10 in any othermanner, or any combination of the preceding. The panel 22 may be anytype of panel. For example, as is illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7F, the panel22 may be a solid panel that may prevent all (or substantially all)fluids (such as water and/or air) from passing through the panel 22, aswell as prevent (or substantially prevent) objects (such as smallanimals) from passing through the panel 22. As another example, thepanel 22 may include one or more openings 26 configured to allow fluids(such as water and/or air) to pass through the panel 22, but preventobjects (such as small animals) from passing through the panel 22.

The panel 22 includes a plurality of insulation pieces 70 configured tobe coupled together to form the panel 22, so as to at least partiallyblock the fluid passageway formed by the frame 10. An insulation piece70 may be any type of object or piece that may be coupled together withother objects or pieces in order to form a panel 22, and that may beconfigured to at least partially prevent fluids (such as water and/orair) from passing through the insulation piece 70. An insulation piece70 may be formed from (or include) any type of material configured to atleast partially prevent fluids (such as water and/or air) from passingthrough the insulation piece 70. For example, insulation piece 70 may beformed from (or include) rubber, plastic, a polymer, a foam, a metal(such as aluminum, stainless steel, spring steel, a galvanized material,any other metal, or any combination of the preceding), any otherinsulating material, any other material configured to at least partiallyprevent fluids (such as water and/or air) from passing throughinsulation piece 70, or any combination of the preceding. In particularembodiments, insulation piece 70 may be formed from (or include) a foaminsulation, such as polyurethane, polyisocyanurate, polystyrene,polyethylene (such as cross linked polyethylene), icynene, air krete,teflon (PTFE), polyester, synthetic rubber, any other foam insulation,or any combination of the preceding. In particular embodiments,insulation piece 70 may be formed from (or include) a rubber or polymer,such as butyl, natural rubber, nitrile, ethylene propylene,polyurethane, silicone, any other rubber or polymer, or any combinationof the preceding.

The panel 22 may include any number of insulation pieces 70. Forexample, the panel 22 may include two insulation pieces 70, threeinsulation pieces 70, four insulation pieces 70, ten insulation pieces70, twenty insulation pieces 70, forty insulation pieces 70, fiftyinsulation pieces 70, 64 insulation pieces 70, 75 insulation pieces 70,98 insulation pieces 70, 100 insulation pieces 70, 128 insulation pieces70, 150 insulation pieces, 200 insulation pieces, 256 insulation pieces,or any other number of insulation pieces 70. As another example, thepanel 22 may include at least two insulation pieces 70 (i.e., two ormore insulation pieces 70), at least three insulation pieces 70, atleast four insulation pieces 70, at least ten insulation pieces 70, atleast twenty insulation pieces 70, at least forty insulation pieces 70,at least fifty insulation pieces 70, at least 64 insulation pieces 70,at least 75 insulation pieces 70, at least 100 insulation pieces 70, atleast 128 insulation pieces 70, at least 150 insulation pieces, at least200 insulation pieces, or at least 256 insulation pieces. As anotherexample, the panel 22 may include a range of insulation pieces 70, suchas 2-10 insulation pieces 70, 10-20 insulation pieces 70, 10-50insulation pieces 70, 50-100 insulation pieces 70, 64-128 insulationpieces 70, 100-256 insulation pieces 70, or any other range ofinsulation pieces 70.

An insulation piece 70 may have any size and/or shape. For example, aninsulation piece 70 may have a height 72 of 0.15″, 0.25″, 0.50″, 1.0″1.50″, 2.0″, 3.0″ 4.0″, or any other height 72. As another example, aninsulation piece 70 may have a length 74 of 0.15″, 0.25″, 0.50″, 1.0″1.50″, 2.0″, 3.0″ 4.0″, or any other length 74. As a further example, aninsulation piece 70 may have a thickness 76 of 0.15″, 0.25″, 0.50″, 1.0″1.50″, 2.0″, 3.0″ 4.0″, or any other thickness 76. As another example,an insulation piece 70 may have a cross section that isrectangular-shaped, square-shaped (as is illustrated in FIG. 7A),circular-shaped, polygon-shaped, irregular shaped, or any other shape.In particular embodiments, the insulation piece 70 may have a height 72and length 74 of 0.5″ squared, 1.5″ squared, 1.5″ squared, 2″ squared,2.5″ squared, 3″ squared, 3.5″ squared, or any other height 72 andlength 74. In particular embodiments, the insulation piece 70 may have aheight 72 and length 74 of approximately 0.5″ squared (i.e., 0.5″squared+/−0.1″ squared), approximately 1″ squared, approximately 1.5″squared, approximately 2″ squared, approximately 2.5″ squared,approximately 3″ squared, approximately 3.5″ squared, or approximatelyany other height 72 and length 74. In particular embodiments, theinsulation piece 70 may have a volume (e.g., height 72, length 74, andthickness 76) of 0.5″ cubed, 1″ cubed, 1.5″ cubed, 2″ cubed, 2.5″ cubed,3″ cubed, 3.5″ cubed, or any other volume. In particular embodiments,the insulation piece 70 may have a volume of approximately 0.5″ cubed(i.e., 0.5″ cubed+/−0.1″ cubed), approximately 1″ cubed, approximately1.5″ cubed, approximately 2″ cubed, approximately 2.5″ cubed,approximately 3″ cubed, approximately 3.5″ cubed, or approximately anyother volume. In particular embodiments, the size and/or shape of theinsulation piece 70 may assist flood vent 8 in providing forequalization of interior and exterior hydrostatic forces caused by afluid (such as flooding water) attempting to flow through the flood vent8. For example, the size and/or shape of the insulation piece 70 mayallow the insulation piece 70 to uncouple from the panel 22 and becarried away from the flood vent 8 by the fluid without, for example,the insulation piece 70 becoming stuck in a portion of the flood vent 8,a portion of an adjacent flood vent 8 (e.g., the uncoupled insulationpieces 70 may float underneath an open panel 22 or other door in anadjacent flood vent 8 installed in the same opening 18 in the structure17), and/or the opening 18 in the structure 17. As such, the flood vent8, the adjacent flood vent 8, and/or the opening 18 in the structure 17may not be clogged (or otherwise blocked) by the uncoupled insulationpieces 70, which may allow the flood vent 8 to further provide forequalization of interior and exterior hydrostatic forces caused by afluid (such as flooding water) attempting to flow through the flood vent8.

The panel 22 further includes one or more insulation piece connectors80. An insulation piece connector 80 may include any type of one or moreconnectors configured to couple the insulation pieces 70 together toform the panel 22, and further configured to uncouple one or more of theinsulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22, such as bya fluid or an object (such as a tree limb or dirt) carried by the fluid.As a first example, an insulation piece connector 80 may be one or morepieces of lamination in contact with the insulation pieces 70. The oneor more pieces of lamination may be configured to couple the insulationpieces 70 together to form the panel 22, and may be further configuredto uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22. The pieces of lamination may include any type of laminate,such as one or more pieces of a plastic film, one or more pieces of apolymer film, any other laminate or film that may couple the insulationpieces 70 together to form the panel 22, or any combination of thepreceding. Furthermore, the one or more pieces of lamination may befurther configured to uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70from the panel 22 when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressureis applied to the panel 22. For example, the one or more pieces oflamination may be configured to peel off, break, or otherwise uncoupleone or more of the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 when, forexample, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22.In particular embodiments, the one or more pieces of lamination may beengineered and/or modified to peel off, break, or otherwise uncouple oneor more of the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example,a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. As oneexample, the one or more pieces of lamination may include rows of holes(or perforations) that may weaken the one or more pieces of laminationso as to break when a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to thepanel 22. In particular embodiments, the amount of material used in thelamination may be selected to cause the one or more pieces of laminationto peel off, break, or otherwise uncouple one or more of the insulationpieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example, a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22.

The pieces of lamination may be laminated to (or otherwise in contact)with each of the insulation pieces 70. For example, the insulationpieces 70 may be arranged together in the shape of the panel 22, andthen the one or more pieces of lamination may be laminated to (orotherwise be put in contact with) each of the insulation pieces 70 onthe side 24 a of the panel 22, thereby coupling the insulation pieces 70to each other and forming the panel 22. As a further example, theinsulation pieces 70 may be arranged together in the shape of the panel22, and then the one or more pieces of lamination may be laminated to(or otherwise be put in contact with) each of the insulation pieces 70on the side 24 b of the panel 22 (as is illustrated in FIG. 7B), therebycoupling the insulation pieces 70 to each other and forming the panel22. As another example, the insulation pieces 70 may be arrangedtogether in the shape of the panel 22, and then the one or more piecesof lamination may be laminated to (or otherwise be put in contact with)each of the insulation pieces 70 on both side 24 a and side 24 b of thepanel 22, thereby coupling the insulation pieces 70 to each other andforming the panel 22.

The pieces of lamination may couple the insulation pieces 70 together(thereby forming the panel 22, as is seen in FIG. 7B) until apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 by, forexample, a fluid (such as flooding water). Once the predetermined amountof pressure is applied to the panel 22, the pieces of lamination maypeel off, break, or otherwise uncouple from the insulation pieces 70and/or panel 22, thereby uncoupling one or more of the insulation pieces70 from the panel 22. This may cause one or more of the insulationpieces 70 to be completely separated from the panel 22 (and/or theremaining insulation pieces 70), and be carried away from the flood vent8, as is illustrated in FIGS. 7C-7F. As such, in particular embodiments,the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objects and/or fluids frompassing through the opening 18 in the structure 17 (or the amount ofblockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel 22 may bereduced).

As a second example, an insulation piece connector 80 may be an adhesiveconfigured to couple the insulation pieces 70 together to form the panel22, and further configured to uncouple one or more of the insulationpieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example, a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22. The adhesive may include anyadhesive substance that may adhere the insulation pieces 70 together toform the panel 22, such as glue, cement, Lexel® adhesive, any otheradhesive substance that may adhere the insulation pieces 70 together toformnn the panel 22, or any combination of the preceding. Furthermore,the adhesive may be further configured to uncouple one or more of theinsulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. Forexample, the adhesive may be configured to peel off, break, or otherwiseuncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 when,for example, a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel22. In particular embodiments, the adhesive may be engineered and/ormodified to peel off, break, or otherwise uncouple one or more of theinsulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. Inparticular embodiments, the amount of adhesive used to couple theinsulation pieces 70 together to form the panel 22 may be selected tocause the adhesive to peel off, break, or otherwise uncouple one or moreof the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 and/or theframe 10.

The adhesive may include one or more portions of the adhesive coupled toeach of the insulation pieces 70, thereby coupling the insulation pieces70 to each other and forming the panel 22. The one or more portions ofthe adhesive may be coupled to any area of the insulation pieces 70,such one or more (or all of the) edges (or sides) of the insulationpieces 70, the side 24 a of the panel 22, the side 24 b of the panel 22,both the sides 24 a and 24 b of the panel 22, or any combination of thepreceding. The portions of the adhesive may couple the insulation pieces70 together (thereby forming the panel 22) until a predetermined amountof pressure is applied to the panel 22 by, for example, a fluid (such asflooding water). Once the predetermined amount of pressure is applied tothe panel 22, the adhesive may peel off, break, or otherwise uncoupleone or more of the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22. This maycause one or more of the insulation pieces 70 to be completely separatedfrom the panel 22 (and/or the remaining insulation pieces 70), and becarried away from the flood vent 8. As such, in particular embodiments,the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objects and/or fluids frompassing through the opening 18 in the structure 17 (or the amount ofblockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel 22 may bereduced).

As a third example, an insulation piece connector 80 may be one or moremechanical fasteners configured to couple the insulation pieces 70together to form the panel 22, and further configured to uncouple one ormore of the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. Themechanical fasteners may include any one or more devices and/or objectsthat may mechanically fasten the insulation pieces 70 together, such asone or more nails, screws, rivets, nuts and bolts, rods and studs,anchors, pins, retaining rings and/or clips, any other devices and/orobjects that may mechanically fasten the insulation pieces 70 together,or any combination of the preceding. Furthermore, the mechanicalfasteners may be configured to uncouple one or more of the insulationpieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example, a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22. For example, the mechanicalfasteners may be configured to break or otherwise uncouple one or moreof the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. Inparticular embodiments, the mechanical fasteners may be engineeredand/or modified to break or otherwise uncouple one or more of theinsulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22.

The mechanical fasteners may include one or more mechanical fastenerscoupled to each of the insulation pieces 70, thereby coupling theinsulation pieces 70 to each other and forming the panel 22. Themechanical fasteners may be coupled to any area of the insulation pieces70, such one or more (or all of the) edges (or sides) of the insulationpieces 70, the side 24 a of the panel 22, the side 24 b of the panel 22,both the sides 24 a and 24 b of the panel 22, or any combination of thepreceding. The mechanical fasteners may couple the insulation pieces 70together (thereby forming the panel 22) until a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22 by, for example, a fluid (such asflooding water). Once the predetermined amount of pressure is applied tothe panel 22, the mechanical fasteners may break or otherwise uncoupleone or more of the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22. This maycause one or more of the insulation pieces 70 to be completely separatedfrom the panel 22 (and/or the remaining insulation pieces 70), and becarried away from the flood vent 8. As such, in particular embodiments,the flood vent 8 may no longer prevent objects and/or fluids frompassing through the opening 18 in the structure 17 (or the amount ofblockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel 22 may bereduced).

As a fourth example, an insulation piece connector 80 may be one or moreintegral connectors configured to couple the insulation pieces 70together to form the panel 22, and further configured to uncouple one ormore of the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example, apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22. Theintegral connectors may be portions of the insulation pieces 70,themselves, that couple the insulation pieces 70 together. For example,the insulation pieces 70 may be formed or otherwise manufactured in theform of the panel 22, with connector segments integrally formed in (oron) the insulation pieces 70 so as to protrude from the insulationpieces 70 and attach the insulation pieces 70 together (as isillustrated in FIG. 7G). As another example, the panel 22 may be formedas a single solid piece, and the insulation pieces 70 and integralconnectors may be formed from the solid piece (such as by stamping thesolid piece, cutting-out portions of the solid piece, or any other meansof removing material). As an example of this, a steel rule die (e.g., asteel rule die having one or more divots in the blade) may be used tostamp the solid-piece (such as a solid-piece of polyethylene foam), forexample. Such stamping may cut through almost the entire thickness (orother dimension) of the panel 22 in order to form the individualinsulation pieces 70 in the panel 22, but may leave one or more un-cutconnections or strands (e.g., hair-like strands) in-between each of theindividual insulation pieces 70. These un-cut connections or strands maybe the integral connectors configured to couple the insulation pieces 70together to form the panel 22. Furthermore, the integral connectors maybe configured to uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 fromthe panel 22 when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22. For example, the integral connectors may beconfigured to break or otherwise uncouple one or more of the insulationpieces 70 from the panel 22 when, for example, a predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to the panel 22. In particular embodiments, theintegral connectors may be sized (e.g., by the one or more divots in theblade of the steel rule die, for example) (or otherwise modified) tobreak or otherwise uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 fromthe panel 22 when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22.

The integral connectors may include one or more integral connectorscoupled to (or formed in) each of the insulation pieces 70, therebycoupling the insulation pieces 70 to each other and forming the panel22. The integral connectors may be coupled to (or formed in) any area ofthe insulation pieces, such one or more (or all of the) edges (or sides)of the insulation pieces 70, the side 24 a of the panel 22, the side 24b of the panel 22, both the sides 24 a and 24 b of the panel 22, or anycombination of the preceding. The integral connectors may couple theinsulation pieces 70 together (thereby forming the panel 22) until apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel 22 by, forexample, a fluid (such as flooding water). Once the predetermined amountof pressure is applied to the panel 22, the integral connectors maybreak or otherwise uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 fromthe panel 22. This may cause one or more of the insulation pieces 70 tobe completely separated from the panel 22 (and/or the remaininginsulation pieces 70), and be carried away from the flood vent 8. Assuch, in particular embodiments, the flood vent 8 may no longer preventobjects and/or fluids from passing through the opening 18 in thestructure 17 (or the amount of blockage of the fluid passageway providedby the panel 22 may be reduced).

The flood vent 8 may include any number of insulation piece connectors80. For example, the flood vent 8 may include one insulation piececonnector 80, two insulation piece connectors 80, three insulation piececonnectors 80, four insulation piece connectors 80, six insulation piececonnectors 80, eight insulation piece connectors 80, ten insulationpiece connectors 80, twenty insulation piece connectors 80, fiftyinsulation piece connectors 80, 64 insulation piece connectors 80, 100insulation piece connectors 80, 128 insulation piece connectors 80, 256insulation piece connectors 80, one insulation piece connector 80 foreach insulation piece 70, two insulation piece connectors 80 for eachinsulation piece 70, or any other number of insulation piece connectors80. The insulation piece connectors 80 may have any size and/or shapethat may allow the insulation piece connectors 80 to uncouple one ormore of the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 when a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22.

As is discussed above, the insulation piece connectors 80 may beconfigured to uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 from thepanel 22 when, for example, a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22. In particular embodiments, the predeterminedamount of pressure may refer to the lowest amount of pressure (orapproximately the lowest amount of pressure) that would cause the panel22 to prevent the equalization of interior and exterior hydrostaticforces caused by a fluid (such as flooding water) attempting to flowthrough the flood vent 8. As an example, the predetermined amount ofpressure may be 0.5 PSI, 1 PSI, 1.5 PSI, 2 PSI, 2.5 PSI, 3 PSI, 3.5 PSI,4 PSI, 4.5 PSI, 5 PSI, 6 PSI, 7 PSI, 10 PSI, approximately 0.5 PSI(i.e., 0.5 PSI+/−0.2 PSI), approximately 1 PSI, approximately 1.5 PSI,approximately 2 PSI, approximately 2.5 PSI, approximately 3 PSI,approximately 3.5 PSI, approximately 4 PSI, approximately 4.5 PSI,approximately 5 PSI, approximately 6 PSI, approximately 7 PSI,approximately 10 PSI, or any other amount of pressure that may preventthe equalization of interior and exterior hydrostatic forces caused by afluid (such as flooding water) attempting to flow through the flood vent8. As a further example, the predetermined amount of pressure may be apressure range of 0.5 PSI-7 PSI, 0.5-5.0 PSI, 0.5-4.0 PSI, 0.5-3.0 PSI,1.0-7.0 PSI, 1.0-5.0 PSI, 1.0-4.0 PSI, 1.0-3.0 PSI, 1.5-7.0 PSI, 1.5-5.0PSI, 1.5-4.0 PSI, 1.5-3.0 PSI, 2.0-7.0 PSI, 2.0-5.0 PSI, 2.0-4.0 PSI,2.0-3.0 PSI, or any other pressure range that may prevent theequalization of interior and exterior hydrostatic forces caused by afluid (such as flooding water) attempting to flow through the flood vent8.

In particular embodiments, the predetermined amount of pressure may bethe lowest pressure at which the insulation piece connectors 80 may beconfigured to uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 from thepanel 22. For example, if an amount of pressure below the predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to the panel 22, the insulation piececonnectors 80 may not uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70from the panel 22. On the other hand, if an amount of pressure equal tothe predetermined amount of pressure (or above the predetermined amountof pressure) is applied to the panel 22, the insulation piece connectors80 may uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 from the panel22.

In particular embodiments, the insulation piece connectors 80 may beconfigured to uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 from thepanel 22 if the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to anyportion of the panel 22. For example, the insulation piece connectors 80may be configured to uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70from the panel 22 if the predetermined amount of pressure is applied toa bottom portion of the panel 22, a top portion of the panel 22, a leftand/or right side portion of the panel 22, any other portion of thepanel 22, or any combination of the preceding. Furthermore, the one ormore insulation pieces 70 uncoupled from the panel 22 may be associatedwith the portion of the panel 22 to which the predetermined amount ofpressure is applied. For example, if the predetermined amount ofpressure is applied to a bottom portion of the panel 22, the one or moreinsulation pieces 70 uncoupled from the panel 22 may be insulationpieces 70 that were located in (and/or near) the bottom portion of thepanel 22. Furthermore, in such an example, the insulation pieces 70 notlocated in (and/or near) the bottom portion of the panel 22 may not beuncoupled from the panel 22. Instead, the insulation pieces 70 notlocated in (and/or near) the bottom portion of the panel 22 may remaincoupled to the panel 22 (and/or the remaining insulation pieces 70 inthe panel 22) until the predetermined amount of pressure is applied tothe portion of the panel 22 in which those insulation pieces 70 arelocated (and/or near where those insulation pieces 70 are located).Alternatively, in particular embodiments, once one or more insulationpieces 70 are uncoupled from the panel 22, the uncoupling may create acascading effect that may uncouple all or a substantial portion (i.e.,90% of the insulation pieces 70) from the panel 22.

In particular embodiments, the predetermined amount of pressure forcausing the insulation piece connectors 80 to uncouple one or more ofthe insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 may change based on (or be afunction of) the portion of the panel 22 to which the predeterminedamount of pressure is applied. For example, the predetermined amount ofpressure may be greater if the predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the bottom portion of the panel 22 (which may be indicativeof a less amount of flooding fluids, for example) than if thepredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the top portion of thepanel 22 (which may be indicative of a greater amount of floodingfluids, for example). In particular embodiments, the predeterminedamount of pressure for causing the insulation piece connectors 80 touncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 maychange based on (or be a function of) the type of panel 22 included inthe flood vent 8. For example, the predetermined amount of pressure maybe less if the panel 22 is a panel without any openings 26 (or withopenings that may be closed, using louvers, for example) than if thepanel includes openings 26 that may not be closed. In such an example, apanel 22 without openings 26 (when compared to a panel 22 with openings26) may more easily (or quickly) prevent equalization of interior andexterior hydrostatic forces caused by a fluid, and therefore it may beadvantageous to uncouple the panel 22 without openings 26 at a loweramount of pressure (when compared to a panel 22 with openings 26). Asanother example, the predetermined amount of pressure may be less if thepanel 22 is a panel 22 with less openings 26 (and/or with smalleropenings 26) than if the panel 22 includes more openings 26 (and/or hasbigger openings 26). In such an example, a panel 22 with less openings26 (when compared to a panel 22 with more openings 26) may more easily(or quickly) prevent equalization of interior and exterior hydrostaticforces caused by a fluid, and therefore it may be advantageous touncouple the panel 22 with less openings 26 at a lower amount ofpressure (when compared to a panel 22 with more openings 26).

In particular embodiments, the insulation piece connectors 80 may beconfigured to uncouple the one or more of the insulation pieces 70 fromthe panel 22 if the predetermined amount of pressure is applied to anyside of the panel 22. For example, the insulation piece connectors 80may be configured to uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70from the panel 22 if the predetermined amount of pressure is applied toside 24 b of the panel 22 (e.g., the side of the panel 22 facing theinterior of the structure 17), thereby causing the one or moreinsulation pieces 70 to be uncoupled from the flood vent 8 and becarried by the fluids, for example, outside of the structure 17, as isillustrated in FIGS. 7C-7F. In particular embodiments, this may causethe one or more insulation pieces 70 to be uncoupled from the flood vent8 when flooding fluids, for example, enter the flood vent 8 from insidethe structure 17. As another example, the insulation piece connectors 80may be configured to uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70from the panel 22 if the predetermined amount of pressure is applied toside 24 a the panel 22 (e.g., the side of the panel 22 facing theexterior of the structure 17), thereby causing the one or moreinsulation pieces 22 to be uncoupled from the flood vent 8 and becarried by the fluids, for example, inside of the structure 17 (e.g., ina direction from left-to-right in FIGS. 7C-7F). In particularembodiments, this may cause the one or more insulation pieces 70 to beuncoupled from the flood vent 8 when flooding fluids, for example, enterthe flood vent 8 from outside the structure 17. As a further example,the insulation piece connectors 80 may be configured to uncouple one ormore of the insulation pieces 70 from the panel 22 if the predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to either the side 24 b of the panel 22(e.g., the side of the panel 22 facing the interior of the structure 17)or the side 24 a of the panel 22 (e.g., the side of the panel 22 facingthe exterior of the structure 17). In particular embodiments, this maycause the one or more insulation pieces 70 to be uncoupled from theflood vent 8 when flooding fluids, for example, enter the flood vent 8from either inside the structure 17 or outside the structure 17.

The panel 22 may further have a frame 84, as is illustrated in FIG. 7H.The frame 84 may be a portion of the panel 22 that surrounds theinsulation pieces 70 and the insulation piece connectors 80. Inparticular embodiments, the frame 84 may be a portion of the panel 22that does not uncouple from the panel 22. For example, although theinsulation pieces 70 may be uncoupled from the panel 22, the frame 84may remain a portion of the panel 22. In such an example, the insulationpieces 70 may uncouple from the frame 84 (and the panel 22) when thepredetermined amount of the pressure is applied to the insulation pieces70. In particular embodiments, all of the insulation pieces 70 may beuncoupled from the frame 84 of the panel 22, leaving an opening in thepanel 22 having the shape of the frame 84. Insulation pieces 70 may becoupled to the frame 84 by one or more insulation piece connectors 80.

The frame 84 may have any size and/or shape. For example, the frame 84may have an edge sizing 88 of 0.15″, 0.25″, 0.375″, 0.50″, 1.0″ 1.50″,2.0″, 3.0″ 4.0″, or any other edge sizing 88. As another example, theframe 84 may be rectangular-shaped (as is illustrated in FIG. 7H),square-shaped, circular-shaped, polygon-shaped, irregular shaped, or anyother shape. The frame 84 may be formed from (or include) any type ofmaterial configured to at least partially prevent fluids (such as waterand/or air) from passing through the frame 84. For example, frame 84 maybe formed from (or include) rubber, plastic, a polymer, a foam, a metal(such as aluminum, stainless steel, spring steel, a galvanized material,any other metal, or any combination of the preceding), any otherinsulating material, any other material configured to at least partiallyprevent fluids (such as water and/or air) from passing through frame 84,or any combination of the preceding. In particular embodiments, frame 84may be formed from (or include) a foam insulation, such as polyurethane,polyisocyanurate, polystyrene, polyethylene (such as cross linkedpolyethylene), icynene, air krete, teflon (PTFE), polyester, syntheticrubber, any other foam insulation, or any combination of the preceding.In particular embodiments, frame 84 may be formed from (or include) arubber or polymer, such as butyl, natural rubber, nitrile, ethylenepropylene, polyurethane, silicone, any other rubber or polymer, or anycombination of the preceding. In particular embodiments, frame 84 may beformed for the same material as insulation pieces 70, or may be formedfrom a different material. In particular embodiments, the frame 84 maybe formed simultaneously (or substantially simultaneously) with theinsulation pieces 70 and insulation piece connectors 80. For example,the panel 22 may be formed as a single solid piece, and the frame 84,the insulation pieces 70, and the insulation piece connectors 80 may beformed from the solid piece (such as by stamping the solid piece,cutting-out portions of the solid piece, or any other means of removingmaterial). As an example of this, a steel rule die (e.g., a steel ruledie having one or more divots in the blade) may be used to stamp thesolid-piece (such as a solid-piece of polyethylene foam), for example.Such stamping may cut through almost the entire thickness (or otherdimension) of the panel 22 in order to form the frame 84 and theindividual insulation pieces 70 in the panel 22, but may leave one ormore un-cut connections or strands (e.g., hair-like strands) in-betweeneach of the individual insulation pieces 70 and the frame 84. Theseun-cut connections or strands may be the insulation piece connectors 80configured to couple the insulation pieces 70 together to form the panel22.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the flood vent 8of FIGS. 7A-7G without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Forexample, the flood vent 8 of FIGS. 7A-7G may include one or morecomponents of the flood vent 8 of FIGS. 4A-4C. In such an example, theflood vent 8 may include a panel 22 having a plurality of insulationpieces 70 and one or more insulation piece connectors 80 configured tocouple the insulation pieces 70 together (thereby forming panel 22), andfurther configured to uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70from the panel 22 when a first predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to the panel 22, and may further include one or more connectors40 that may be configured to uncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17when a second predetermined amount of pressure is applied to the panel22 and/or the frame 10. The first predetermined amount of pressure(which may uncouple one or more of the insulation pieces 70 from thepanel 22) may be less than the second predetermined amount of pressure(which may uncouple the frame 10 from the structure 17). For example,the first predetermined amount of pressure may be a pressure range of0.5 PSI-7 PSI (or any of the pressures or pressure ranges discussedabove) while the second predetermined amount of pressure may be apressure range of 1.5 PSI-8 PSI (or any of the pressures or pressureranges discussed above and further being greater than the firstpredetermined amount of pressure). As such, if a fluid (such as floodingwater) applies a first predetermined amount of pressure to the panel 22,one or more insulation pieces 70 may be uncoupled from the panel 22(which may reduce the amount of blockage of the fluid passageway by thepanel 22). Furthermore, in an example where the fluid (such as theflooding water) continues to rise and apply additional force, if thefluid applies the second predetermined amount of pressure to the frame10, the frame 10 may be uncoupled from the structure 17 (which mayfurther reduce the amount of blockage of the fluid). As such, the floodvent 8 may be able to further provide for equalization of interior andexterior hydrostatic forces caused by flooding waters.

As another example, although the flood vent 8 has been described aboveas including a frame 10, in particular embodiments, the flood vent 8 maynot include a frame 10. In such embodiments, the panel 22 may beconfigured to be coupled directly to the structure 17. As such, inparticular embodiments, the panel 22 may be inserted into (or installedon) the structure 17 (such as the opening 18 in the structure 17)without the use of a frame 10.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the flood vents 8of FIGS. 1-7 without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Forexample, the panel 22 may be replaceable without, for example, replacingthe entire flood vent 8. In particular, after all or a portion of thepanel 22 has been uncoupled from the flood vent 8 (as a result of apredetermined amount of pressure being applied to the panel 22, forexample), the panel 22 may be replaced by a new panel 22 (with the samefeatures and capabilities discussed above with regard to FIGS. 1-7) thatmay be re-welded to the frame 10, re-coupled to the frame 10 using anadhesive (such as glue, cement, and/or Lexel®), re-attached to the frame10 using one or more pins that may be inserted or snapped into one ormore channels or hooks in the frame 10, re-attached to the frame 10using one or more rivets, nails, and/or any other connector, re-attachedto the structure 17 (and thus the frame 10) using one or more rivets,nails, and/or any other connect, re-coupled to the frame 10 in any othermanner, or any combination of the preceding. As such, the flood vent 8may continue to operate, without replacing the entire flood vent 8. Asanother example, the disclosure of each of FIGS. 1-7 may be combinedwith one or more (or all) of any of the other disclosures of FIGS. 1-7.As one example of this, an opening 18 in a structure 17 may have a firstflood vent (such as a flood vent 8 of FIGS. 7A-7H) installed on a firstside of the structure 17 (such as the interior side of the structure 17)and may further have a second flood vent (such as a flood vent 8 of anyof FIGS. 1-6, or any other flood vent, such as any flood vent includedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,187 entitled “Flood Gate For Door”) installed ona second side of the structure 17 (such as the exterior side of thestructure 17).

This specification has been written with reference to variousnon-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments or examples. However, itwill be recognized by persons having ordinary skill in the art thatvarious substitutions, modifications, or combinations of any of thedisclosed embodiments or examples (or portions thereof) may be madewithin the scope of this specification. Thus, it is contemplated andunderstood that this specification supports additional embodiments orexamples not expressly set forth in this specification. Such embodimentsor examples may be obtained, for example, by combining, modifying, orreorganizing any of the disclosed steps, components, elements, features,aspects, characteristics, limitations, and the like, of the variousnon-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments or examples described inthis specification. In this manner, Applicant reserves the right toamend the claims during prosecution to add features as variouslydescribed in this specification.

1. A flood vent, comprising: a frame configured to form a fluidpassageway through an opening in a structure; and a panel configured tobe coupled to the frame in the fluid passageway so as to at leastpartially block the fluid passageway through the opening in thestructure, the panel having a first solid area, a second solid area, anda first set of one or more perforations positioned on a first side ofthe panel in a location in-between the first solid area and the secondsolid area of the panel, the first set of one or more perforations beingconfigured to break when at least a predetermined amount of pressure isapplied to a portion of the second solid area of the panel, wherein thebreak is configured to completely separate the second solid area of thepanel from the first solid area of the panel so as to reduce an amountof blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel.
 2. The floodvent of claim 1, wherein the panel is a solid panel configured to becoupled to the frame in the fluid passageway so as to completely blockthe fluid passageway through the opening in the structure.
 3. The floodvent of claim 1, wherein the first set of one or more perforations arefurther configured to break when the at least the predetermined amountof pressure is applied to a portion of the second solid area of thepanel on the first side of the panel, and wherein the first set of oneor more perforations are further configured to break when the at leastthe predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of thesecond solid area of the panel on a second side of the panel opposite ofthe first side of the panel.
 4. The flood vent of claim 1, wherein thepredetermined amount of pressure is 0.5-5.0 pounds per square inch. 5.The flood vent of claim 1, wherein each perforation of the first set ofone or more perforations comprises a hole that extends entirely througha thickness of the panel.
 6. The flood vent of claim 1, wherein eachperforation of the first set of one or more perforations comprises acut-out portion that reduces a thickness of the panel in the location ofthe perforation without extending entirely through the thickness of thepanel in the location of the perforation.
 7. The flood vent of claim 1,wherein each perforation of the first set of one or more perforationscomprises a pre-stressed portion of the panel.
 8. The flood vent ofclaim 1, wherein each perforation of the first set of one or moreperforations comprises a pre-cut portion of the panel.
 9. A flood ventpanel, comprising: a first solid area; a second solid area; and a firstset of one or more perforations positioned on a first side of the floodvent panel in a location in-between the first solid area and the secondsolid area of the flood vent panel, the first set of one or moreperforations being configured to break when at least a predeterminedamount of pressure is applied to a portion of the second solid area ofthe flood vent panel; wherein the flood vent panel is configured to becoupled, at least indirectly, to a structure so as to at least partiallyblock a fluid passageway through an opening in the structure; whereinthe break is configured to completely separate the second solid area ofthe flood vent panel from the first solid area of the flood vent panelso as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway providedby the flood vent panel.
 10. The flood vent panel of claim 9, whereinthe flood vent panel is a solid panel configured to be coupled, at leastindirectly, to the structure so as to completely block the fluidpassageway through the opening in the structure.
 11. The flood ventpanel of claim 9, wherein the first set of one or more perforations arefurther configured to break when the at least the predetermined amountof pressure is applied to a portion of the second solid area of theflood vent panel on the first side of the flood vent panel, and whereinthe first set of one or more perforations are further configured tobreak when the at least the predetermined amount of pressure is appliedto a portion of the second solid area of the flood vent panel on asecond side of the flood vent panel opposite of the first side of theflood vent panel.
 12. The flood vent panel of claim 9, wherein the floodvent panel is configured to be coupled directly to the structure. 13.The flood vent panel of claim 9, wherein each perforation of the firstset of one or more perforations comprises a hole that extends entirelythrough a thickness of the flood vent panel.
 14. The flood vent panel ofclaim 9, wherein each perforation of the first set of one or moreperforations comprises a cut-out portion that reduces a thickness of theflood vent panel in the location of the perforation without extendingentirely through the thickness of the flood vent panel in the locationof the perforation.
 15. The flood vent panel of claim 9, wherein eachperforation of the first set of one or more perforations comprises apre-stressed portion of the flood vent panel.
 16. The flood vent panelof claim 9, wherein each perforation of the first set of one or moreperforations comprises a pre-cut portion of the flood vent panel.